LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
SoCalGas Operations Update — SoCalGas continues to make
progress on relief well number one, reaching a measured depth of
8,615 feet. As we move forward, there are three major
milestones – the "three C's" – to stopping the leak:
- Controlling the natural gas that is leaking:
- This step consists of approaching the target well along the
most precise path possible so the drill bit is in the best position
to drill through it, and then pumping heavy fluids into the target
well to stop the flow of gas.
- We expect this step to begin within the next several days.
- Cementing and stabilizing the target well so that it is
permanently sealed:
- When the flow of gas has been stopped, SoCalGas will pump
enough cement to displace the fluids and mud and leave a cement
seal that will cut off the target well from the reservoir,
permanently stopping the leak at its source.
- This step will take multiple days after controlling the flow of
gas.
- Confirmation from DOGGR that the target well is permanently
sealed:
- SoCalGas will work with the regulating agency, the Division of
Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources to confirm that the well leak is
permanently stopped.
- At that point, it is anticipated that no more gas will leak
from the well and any remaining odors associated with the leak are
expected to quickly dissipate.
- This step will take multiple days after cementing the
well.
We remain on schedule with relief well number one to stop the
leak by late February or sooner. Crews continue to set up rig
equipment on relief well number two.
SoCalGas Notification to Residents
SoCalGas will make
at least two notifications to residents. The first will be when the
leak has been controlled. The second will be when SoCalGas receives
confirmation from DOGGR. SoCalGas will attempt to call or email all
residents who requested relocation assistance from SoCalGas as well
as issue a press release, post information on the AlisoUpdates.com
and provide updates through social media. To ensure you receive the
latest updates regarding Aliso Canyon, please fill out our Aliso
Canyon Updates form. Get more information
here: https://www.alisoupdates.com/acu-return-home-faq.
South Coast Air Quality Management District Findings on
Benzene Concentration in Porter
Ranch
Recently the SCAQMD published findings that
show that average benzene concentrations and the range of 12-hour
and 24-hour benzene concentrations (average, minimum and maximum)
in the Porter Ranch area are
lower than those in surrounding communities. A graphical
representation of these findings is available at:
http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/compliance/aliso-cyn/graphs_020116.pdf?sfvrsn=12
SoCalGas Recognizes the Impact on the Community
SoCalGas is working every day to address concerns of members of the
community, whether they've chosen to take advantage of temporary
housing accommodations or have remained in Porter Ranch. SoCalGas has established
multiple ways to support residents during this unfortunate
situation. We have set up a dedicated website, a Community Resource
Center, and dedicated phone lines for claims or temporary
relocation assistance.
Relocation Updates
As of Feb.
10, 2016, 1,726 (more than a third) of the residents who
chose to relocate have checked out of their temporary
accommodations.
- Households placed: 4,645
- Households in progress: 861
- Households checked out: 1,726
- Air scrubbers installed in homes: 5,467
- Weatherization of homes: 5,410
- Plug-in air filters delivered to homes: 3,231
About Southern California Gas Co: Southern California Gas
Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural
gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the nation's
largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.6
million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than
500 communities. The company's service territory encompasses
approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and
Southern California, from
Visalia to the Mexican border.
SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a
Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.
This press release contains statements that are not
historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements can be identified by words like "believes,"
"expects," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects,"
"forecasts," "contemplates," "intends," "depends," "should,"
"could," "would," "will," "confident," "may," "potential,"
"possible," "proposed," "target," "pursue," "goals," "outlook,"
"maintain" or similar expressions, or discussions of guidance,
strategies, plans, goals, opportunities, projections, initiatives,
objectives or intentions. Forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and
assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving
judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including,
among others: local, regional, national and international economic,
competitive, political, legislative and regulatory conditions and
developments; actions and the timing of actions, including
issuances of permits to construct and licenses for operation, by
the California Public Utilities Commission, California State
Legislature, U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, California Energy Commission, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, and other
regulatory, governmental and environmental bodies in the United States; the timing and success of
business development efforts and construction, maintenance and
capital projects, including risks in obtaining, maintaining or
extending permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations
on a timely basis and risks in obtaining adequate and competitive
financing for such projects; energy markets, including the timing
and extent of changes and volatility in commodity prices, and the
impact of any protracted reduction in oil and natural gas prices
from historical averages; the impact on the value of our natural
gas storage assets from low natural gas prices, low volatility of
natural gas prices and the inability to procure favorable long-term
contracts for natural gas storage services; delays in the timing of
costs incurred and the timing of the regulatory agency
authorization to recover such costs in rates from customers;
deviations from regulatory precedent or practice that result in a
reallocation of benefits or burdens among shareholders and
ratepayers; capital markets conditions, including the availability
of credit and the liquidity of our investments; inflation and
interest rates; the availability of electric power and natural gas,
and natural gas pipeline and storage capacity, including
disruptions caused by failures in the North American transmission
grid, pipeline explosions and equipment failures; cybersecurity
threats to the energy grid, natural gas storage and pipeline
infrastructure, the information and systems used to operate our
businesses and the confidentiality of our proprietary information
and the personal information of our customers, terrorist attacks
that threaten system operations and critical infrastructure, and
wars; weather conditions, conservation efforts, natural disasters,
catastrophic accidents, and other events that may disrupt our
operations, damage our facilities and systems, and subject us to
third-party liability for property damage or personal injuries some
of which may or may not be covered by insurance; risks that our
partners or counterparties will be unable or unwilling to fulfill
their contractual commitments; business, regulatory, environmental
and legal decisions and requirements; the inability or
determination not to enter into long-term supply and sales
agreements or long-term firm capacity agreements due to
insufficient market interest, unattractive pricing or other
factors; the resolution of litigation; and other uncertainties, all
of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our
control. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the
reports that the company has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. These reports are available through the EDGAR system
free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Investors should
not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and
the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these
forecasts or projections or other forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.