Fixing the Porter Ranch gas leak

Relief well

Leaking well

1. Initial segment

2. Nears leaking well.

3. Leaking well identified.

4. Relief well drilled to intercept.

Detailed

Gas reservoir

5. Relief well drilled through leaking well.

Killing the well

Fluid injected.

Plugging the well

Cement is injected.

Fluid pressure

Cement

Leaking

well

Leaking

well

Relief

well

Relief

well

Gas pressure

Gas pressure

Source: Southern California Gas Co.

@latimesgraphics

Relief well

Leaking well

1. Initial segment installed.

2. Nears leaking well.

3. Leaking well identified.

4. Relief well

drilled to intercept.

Detailed

Natural gas reservoir

5. Relief well drilled through leaking well.

Plugging the well

Cement is injected.

Killing the well

Fluid is injected.

Fluid pressure

Cement

Leaking

well

Leaking

well

Relief

well

Relief

well

Gas pressure

Gas pressure

Source: Southern California Gas Co.

@latimesgraphics

Relief well

Leaking well

1. Initial segment

of relief well installed.

Depth

in feet

1,000

2,000

2. Relief well nears leaking well during drilling.

3,000

3. Relief well passes eaking well to identify its location.

4,000

5,000

4. Relief well drilled next to

leaking well for easier to intercept.

6,000

7,000

Detailed

8,000

Natural gas reservoir

5. The relief well is drilled through the leaking well. Mud and other fluids are pumped into the well to ‘kill’ it and stop the flow of gas. Cement is then pumped into the well to plug it.

Plugging the well

Cement is injected.

Killing the well

Fluid is injected.

Fluid pressure

Cement

Leaking

well

Leaking

well

Relief

well

Relief

well

Gas pressure

Gas pressure

Source: Southern California Gas Co.

@latimesgraphics

Relief well

Leaking well

1. Initial segment

of relief well

installed.

Depth

in feet

la-me-porter-ranch-relocation-20151222

1,000

2,000

2. Relief well nears leaking well during drilling.

3,000

3. The relief well passes the leaking well to identify its location.

4,000

5,000

4. The relief well is drilled next to the leaking well to make it easier to intercept.

6,000

7,000

Detailed

Natural gas reservoir

8,000

5. The relief well is drilled through the leaking well. Mud and other fluids are pumped into the well to ‘kill’ it and stop the flow of gas. Cement is then pumped into the well to plug it.

Plugging the well

Cement is injected to

permanently plug the well.

Killing the well

Mud and fluid are injected

to counter gas pressure.

Fluid pressure

Cement

Leaking

well

Leaking

well

Relief

well

Relief

well

Gas pressure

Gas pressure

Source: Southern California Gas Co.

@latimesgraphics

Relief well

Leaking well

1. Initial segment

of relief well

installed.

Depth

in feet

1,000

2,000

2. Relief well nears leaking well during drilling.

3,000

3. The relief well passes the leaking well to identify its location.

4,000

5,000

4. The relief well is drilled next to the leaking well to make it easier to intercept.

6,000

7,000

Detailed

Natural gas reservoir

8,000

5. The relief well is drilled through the leaking well. Mud and other fluids are pumped into the well to ‘kill’ it and stop the flow of gas. Cement is then pumped into the well to plug it.

Plugging the well

Cement is injected to

permanently plug the well.

Killing the well

Mud and fluid are injected

to counter gas pressure.

Fluid pressure

Cement

Leaking

well

Leaking

well

Relief

well

Relief

well

Gas pressure

Gas pressure

Source: Southern California Gas Co.

@latimesgraphics