1/22: California gas leak spotlights shoddy regulation of aging storage wells
January 22, 2016Exclusive: California gas leak spotlights shoddy regulation of aging storage wells
Long before a natural gas storage well sprung a disastrous leak near Los Angeles, California, utilities and national industry groups were raising alarms about the danger of aging underground storage infrastructure. The leaking well’s owner, Southern California Gas Co, warned state utility regulators in 2014 of “major failures” without a rate hike to pay for comprehensive inspections of 229 storage wells. Find out what else state utility regulators knew here.
Methane leak dwindles, test shows
The amount of methane leaking from a ruptured natural gas well in Southern California Gas Co.’s Aliso Canyon storage facility continues to drop, the state said Friday, but a massive amount of the greenhouse gas has been ejected into the atmosphere. Read about how much it’s slowed here.
LA County investigates price-gouging in Porter Ranch
The L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs says it’s now investigating five formal complaints of price gouging related to the Porter Ranch gas leak. Find out how high prices are here.
Draft California Rules For Oil/Gas Steam, Water and Storage Released
On a day in which Gov. Jerry Brown delivered his state-of-the-state address with no mention of energy or regulations, California’s agency overseeing oil and natural gas on Thursday released draft rules covering the use of water, steam and underground storage in oil/gas activities. Read about the new rules here.
Unified Command Structure Formed to Address Aliso Canyon Gas Leak .
The LA County Fire Department and the LA County Department of Public Health, along with Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) jointly announced today that they will form a unified command structure to manage the response to the Porter Ranch natural gas leak incident. Read what they plan to do here.
SEMPRA ENERGY PRICE TARGET UPDATE
According to 6 Analysts, the short term target price has been estimated at $119.17. The target price could deviate by a maximum of $5.42 from the forecast price. In the near term, the target price could hit a high of $125 and a low of $111. Read more about Sempra Energy’s stock price here.
California Examines SoCalGas Injection Practice at Time of Leak Discovery
A top official in California’s Department of Conservation (DOC) earlier this week told local news media that an injection practice used by Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) at the time it discovered a natural gas storage well leak last October needs further review by state regulators. It is part of the state’s investigation of the prolonged leak, which has displaced thousands of local residents. Read more about the investigation here.
Capping the Porter Ranch gas leak isn’t enough
While the Southern California Gas Co. continues its work on a relief well that will, hopefully, stop the three-month-long gas leak near Porter Ranch, lawmakers are beginning on the next essential step: developing regulations to reduce the risk of another massive leak from an underground natural gas storage facility that will once again sicken people and wreak havoc on the environment. Read about the plan here.
