After Almost Four Months, Monster Methane Leak is Capped

It's a temporary cap, but it means that thousands of Porter Ranch, Los Angeles residents can return home. SoCalGas has begun the process of permanently capping the leak of the huge natural gas storage field first detected on Oct. 23.

2 minute read

February 12, 2016, 9:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


The capping of the 8,000-foot-deep leak in the Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Fieldthe largest natural gas storage field west of the Mississippi River, was achieved earlier than predicted.

"A relief well that was drilled toward the base of the leaking well -- beginning Dec. 4 -- finally reached its destination on Thursday (Feb. 11), the utility said," write Melissa Pamer and Kareen Wynter for KTLA5. "That had not been expected till late February."

Our initial post about the leak on December 16 stated that the leak "is not expected to be repaired for months, as incredible as that may sound."

“We have temporarily controlled the natural gas flow from the leaking well and begun the process of sealing the well and permanently stopping the leak,” said Jimmie Cho, SoCalGas senior vice president of gas operations and system integrity, in a statement [PDF].

Porter Ranch residents who relocated -- at the utility's expense -- because of odors from the gas leak were notified that the leak had been halted Tuesday, the Gas Co. said.

The next step is for state regulators with the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) to "confirm the leak is halted and the faulty well shut down," write Pamer and Wynter. "[R]esidents will have eight days and seven nights to return to their homes."

Unlike other major leaks, such as the historic Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from April 20 to July 15, 2010 (less than three months) that killed 11 oil workers, spilling almost 5 millions barrels of oil, the SoCalGas leak was not from a production well but from a storage facility.

Thursday, February 11, 2016 in KTLA5

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

July 6 - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6 - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine