Massive Uncontrollable Methane Leak in Los Angeles

[vengie]

Honestly, I'm a little surprised no one is talking about this yet as the leak was reported on October 23!

The leak has already released the equivalent green house gasses as six coal fired power plants operating for twenty years.

What sort of attention will this garner as the U.S continues its attack of Canada's oil sands? Will environmentalists start looking locally? This has the potential to be worse environmentally than the BP oil spill.

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-new...fornia-n487381

The massive underground leak at a storage facility north of Los Angeles was reported by the Southern California Gas Co. on Oct. 23, and since then has emitted more than 72,000 metric tons of methane, according to the Environmental Defense Fund

After attempting other methods to stop the leak, the company has begun drilling relief wells that would allow it to seal off the gas by pumping cement underground. SoCal Gas has said that work to plug the well may not be complete until late March. On Sunday, the company said that it has drilled about 3,800 feet toward the target well, and that it is beginning work to drill a second, backup relief well.

[rage2]

It's not dirty if you can't see it.

[lilmira]

[carson blocks]

I love how I haven't heard any Hollywood types bitching about this happening in their own backyard. You know, the same people who love to fly to Alberta, take a helicopter tour of Fort Mac to become an instant "tar-sands" expert, and preach from their soapbox about the evils of "dirty oil".

[Mibz]

Came here expecting a picture of Michael Moore or something. Kinda disappointed it's an actual methane leak.

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by vengie
Honestly, I'm a little surprised no one is talking about this yet as the leak was reported on October 23!

Because there is no rich oil company to go after for fines.

[rage2]

Originally posted by Xtrema
Because there is no rich oil company to go after for fines.

Sempra Energy
NYSE: SRE - Dec 30 3:28 PM EST
Mkt cap $23.81B

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by rage2

Sempra Energy
NYSE: SRE - Dec 30 3:28 PM EST
Mkt cap $23.81B

I thought it's SoCal Gas's problem? Mkt Cap $20M.

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by Xtrema


I thought it's SoCal Gas's problem? Mkt Cap $20M.

So Sempra owns Socal gas and the governor's sister (also former Cali treasurer) is on the board.

Interesting.

[avishal26]

It is still a far cry from what an oil sands facility produces though.

Canadian O&G sector's annual GHG emissions - 179 Mega tonnes.
GHG emissions from this leak in 2 months: 0.072 Mega tonnes. (or 0.432 Mega tonnes annually)

I looked this up because I wanted to make a smartass post about how California gas should now be labelled dirty, but couldn't find any supporting numbers

[Black Gts]

Originally posted by carson blocks
I love how I haven't heard any Hollywood types bitching about this happening in their own backyard. You know, the same people who love to fly to Alberta, take a helicopter tour of Fort Mac to become an instant "tar-sands" expert, and preach from their soapbox about the evils of "dirty oil".

I volunteer.. Will beyond sponsor my trip, and everyone spout off how one of ours went to save the world?? Media will definitely pick up on that and I'll share the 15mins of fame with everyone. Maybe I'll get lucky, be there for an earthquake and I'll pull the Leo.. "the ground was still one minute, shaking the next.. Even the locals taking pics on Hollywood Blvd said they never saw anything like it" . I think I'm onto something...

[dirtsniffer]

Originally posted by avishal26
It is still a far cry from what an oil sands facility produces though.

Canadian O&G sector's annual GHG emissions - 179 Mega tonnes.
GHG emissions from this leak in 2 months: 0.072 Mega tonnes. (or 0.432 Mega tonnes annually)

I looked this up because I wanted to make a smartass post about how California gas should now be labelled dirty, but couldn't find any supporting numbers

Last I heard the oil sands produce about 55 mt annually, and if you consider the fact that methane could be 100× worse for green house effects this puts it right on par.