LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today released a new video
demonstrating several operational enhancements and tools to monitor
field operations at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility,
including daily and weekly safety and equipment checks, daily
infrared video scanning, and continuous pressure monitoring.
The safety enhancements, required by the Division of Oil, Gas and
Geothermal Resources (DOGGR), are in addition to the ongoing and
rigorous well inspection procedures underway at the
facility.
"We are diligently following all regulations and state laws, and
we aim to receive authorization to partially restore operations at
the field by late summer," said SoCalGas chief operating officer
Bret Lane. "As the joint agency
Action Plan to Preserve Southern California Energy Reliability
This Winter concludes, Aliso Canyon is critical to meeting
Southern California's energy needs
during the coming winter's heating season when natural gas use is
highest."
New operational enhancements include:
- Around-the-clock pressure monitoring of the tubing,
production casing, and surface casing of every well -
Continuous pressure data is transmitted 24/7 and can be reviewed by
engineers and technicians. Any anomalies identified will initiate
action and will be immediately reported to DOGGR.
- Daily patrols to visually examine every well at Aliso
Canyon - This includes an assessment of the wellhead, the well
cellar, and the surrounding area. Specialized technology will
assist inspectors as they "look, listen, and smell" for any
potential leaks.
- Daily scanning of each well using sensitive infrared thermal
imaging cameras that can detect even the smallest leaks.
- Withdrawal and injection only through each well's tubing
– The well's tubing is the inner pipe that is surrounded by an
outer casing. This physical barrier provides another layer in the
well to protect against leaks.
Before gas injection can resume at Aliso Canyon, every well must
either pass a battery of eight tests established by DOGGR, be
temporarily taken out of operation and isolated from the
underground gas reservoir, or be permanently abandoned. SoCalGas
has been working to test all wells at the field since just after
the leak was sealed six months ago.
As of August 19, all of the 114
active wells have completed the first phase of testing required by
new regulations and state law. In the process, many wells have been
temporarily isolated from the gas reservoir in a safe condition
until phase two testing can be completed. This step is required by
DOGGR and does not mean these wells are unsafe or will not pass
future inspections. Twenty-one wells have completed all
diagnostics, and 18 wells have received final DOGGR approval.
SoCalGas provides updates to DOGGR on the status of testing on the
first and third Friday of every month, which are then posted on the
Division's website. The next report will be submitted on Friday,
September 2.
About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and
reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It
is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing
service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million
meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service
territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout
central and Southern California,
from Visalia to the Mexican
border. Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of
Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding
company based in San Diego.
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoWMoPd4viw
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150126/171209LOGO
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visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/socalgas-releases-new-video-demonstrating-aliso-canyon-storage-facility-operational-enhancements-300317983.html
SOURCE Southern California Gas Company