PORTER RANCH
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FAST FACTS:
WELL COUNT: 32 active wells as of 2016 and 229 storage wells with a capacity of over 86 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage COMPANY: Southern California Gas Company, The Termo Company, and Crimson Resource Management Corp. DISTANCE FROM HOMES: 1 mile north of the Porter Ranch community Tucked away behind the Santa Susana Mountains, the Aliso Canyon Oil Fields serve as both an active oil field and a natural gas storage facility. The residents of Porter Ranch, a suburban community on the outskirts of the oil field, were forced to move out of their homes as a cloud of methane enveloped their neighborhood. After four months of inaction and failed attempts residents were able to move back into their homes once the gas leak was plugged. |
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CURRENT OPERATIONS
As of 2016, 32 active wells continue oil production on the field. Aliso Canyon Oil Field is also the second-largest natural gas storage site in the western United States, with a capacity of over 86 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The gas storage reservoir can still be accessed through 115 gas injection wells, along with approximately 38 miles of pipeline internal to the field. |
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COMMUNITY IMPACTS
As the leak dragged on Porter Ranch residents reported rotten egg odor, headaches, nausea, dizziness, nosebleeds and other symptoms forced some to stay indoors. About 50 children per day saw school nurses for severe nosebleeds.
As of January 7, 2016, more than 2,800 households or about 11,296 people had been temporarily relocated by SoCal Gas.
As the leak dragged on Porter Ranch residents reported rotten egg odor, headaches, nausea, dizziness, nosebleeds and other symptoms forced some to stay indoors. About 50 children per day saw school nurses for severe nosebleeds.
As of January 7, 2016, more than 2,800 households or about 11,296 people had been temporarily relocated by SoCal Gas.
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REULATORY RESPONSE
On January 6, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown finally issued a state of emergency. An estimated 97,100 tonnes of methane and 7,300 tonnes of ethane was released into the atmosphere, making it the worst natural gas leak in U.S. history in terms of its environmental impact. Since the gas leak was plugged on February 18, 2016, residents have been able to move back to their homes. However, local health officials indicated that exposure to certain trace chemicals could lead to long-term health problems. |
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Using a special FLIR camera, Earthworks captured the movement of the methane emissions (normally invisible to the naked eye) through the Porter Ranch community.
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