Southern California Gas Company reported that on January 27 at 7 am a safety valve on an aboveground pipeline at the Aliso Canyon natural gas facility activated, temporarily venting natural gas into the atmosphere.
The safety valve was activated by ice – called hydrates – in a pipeline at the facility.
The release of natural gas lasted approximately 25 minutes and was safely stopped by operators at the field.
Nearby residents reported to the Gas Company they smelled a natural gas odor which dissipated once the venting stopped.
Congressman Brad Sherman addressed the leak, saying, “I have been fighting to close this natural gas storage facility down. Southern California Gas Company has refused to even try to develop a natural gas delivery system that is not dependent upon Aliso Canyon.
The California Public Utilities Commission has refused to require the development of a plan to shut Aliso Canyon down while continuing to provide natural gas service to the residents of Los Angeles County.
We have no idea whether today’s gas leak was more significant than described by Southern California Gas Company. But we know that today’s gas leak shows that it is long past time to shut it down.”
Sherman’s concerns stem from the October 23, 2015 gas leak at the same facility.
It was the largest gas blowout in the history of the United States. It was estimated that 109,000 metric tons of methane was released from Aliso Canyon Well SS-25 until it was sealed 111 days later on February 11, 2016. So Cal Gas paid out over $2 billion in settlements and fines.
Operators at the plant are currently inspecting the impacted pipeline and will remove any remaining hydrates and make any needed repairs. No additional venting is anticipated.
