Pockets of Methane Gas Identified in Six Areas

A state study prompted by an explosion last year in a Los Angeles clothing store has identified potentially hazardous concentrations of methane gas in six areas in Orange and Los Angeles counties, officials announced Tuesday.

The study identified pockets of methane gas in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Brea, Santa Fe Springs and, in Los Angeles, scattered west from Chinatown across the Hollywood Freeway and in the Fairfax area.

“Each of these communities faces at least some danger of a tragedy similar to the one which hit the Fairfax community in my district last year,” state Sen. David Roberti (D-Los Angeles), who introduced the legislation calling for the $350,000 study, said at a press conference in Los Angeles.

The report will be provided to city officials “so they can study their options and alternatives,” Roberti said.

Roberti called for the study after a March, 1985, methane gas explosion and fire that injured 21 people. It occurred when gas ignited after leaking from the ground into an unventilated room.

State officials described the study as a valuable tool in planning specific measures to mitigate the potential danger of methane gas explosions. But the general areas of possible hazard were not a surprise because areas selected for study all had a history of natural oil or gas seepage and were near abandoned oil and gas wells.

Newport Beach Fire Chief Jim Reed, 48, said the one area of concern in his city--a spot near 35th Street and Marcus Avenue--has been leaking methane gas “for as long as I can remember--and I’ve lived here all my life.” Methane seeping through cracks in the sidewalk can be lighted, he said. Residents put pipes into the ground and light the ends for torches, he said.

But people in the dense residential neighborhoods have been more concerned about the smell of an accompanying gas, hydrogen sulfide, which “smells like rotten eggs,” Reed said.

“Right now it’s more of an annoyance than a threat, but you’re never really sure how much gas can come up,” Reed said. “The state indicated they would make this the highest priority and would consider putting in a permanent well to vent the gas.”

Unlike Newport, Huntington Beach discovered its seeping methane only a few months ago, said Huntington Beach Fire Chief Ray Picard. Two leaks were discovered under the pavement on Kite Drive and Bermuda Drive in the city’s eastern section by Southern California Gas Co. surveyors, he said.

Picard said neighbors had never noticed the leaks. “It’s not a direct hazard. It’s not a fire hazard. It’s just gas that’s there,” he said.

He added that state officials already are drafting contracts for venting the gas.

Brea Fire Chief Jerry McDowell was unavailable for comment.

“Originally, the project was set up by the state to see if any of the thousands of abandoned (oil and gas) wells were leaking,” Fleet Rust, president of GeoScience Analytical Inc. of Simi Valley, contractor for the study, said in an interview. “We didn’t find any leaking wells.”

The study did find certain locations with unexpectedly high levels of methane gas produced by decaying organic materials.

Roberti suggested that local officials could use information in the report to warn residents and businesses in affected areas to be sure that basements are well ventilated or else to install methane monitoring equipment.