SoCal Gas Expects To Stop Aliso Canyon Leak By Late February

PORTER RANCH (CBSLA.com) — Southern California Gas Co. announced Monday that it expects to stop the leak at its Aliso Canyon storage facility by late February, if not sooner, as the utility says work on its relief well project is moving forward ahead of schedule.

The relief well drilling began Dec. 4 and is expected to reach the bottom of the well at a depth of about 8,500 feet below the surface next month, according to Jimmie Cho, senior vice president of gas operations and system integrity for SoCalGas. Once the well is sealed, it will be taken out of service permanently, Cho said.

Preliminary estimates were for the well to be capped in March.

"Our team of experts has been working around the clock since we started relief well operations in early December and we're pleased with the progress we've made thus far," Cho said.

"Our top priority remains the safety of those working on the site and of the nearby community. We are focused on stopping the leak as quickly and safely as possible, mitigating the environmental, and supporting the community ... Our schedule to control and stop the leak in February is consistent with the updated plan we have submitted to state regulators."

Still, concerned residents and activists said they were not prepared to take the utility's timeline at face value.

"All of their updates have been the 'official updates,'" said Save Porter Ranch activist Matt Pakucko. "What has come true? Nothing."

Southern California Gas Co. first reported the leaking well Oct. 23, and since then an estimated 77 million kilograms of methane have been released, leaving people living near the site to deal with foul odors and nosebleeds, headaches, nausea and other short-term ailments.

SoCal Gas says that gas emissions have also dropped 60 percent since the peak several weeks ago.

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