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Town Hall Meeting Seminar: The Aliso Canyon Gas Leak (A dramatization)
Students played the roles of persons involved in the Aliso Canyon Gas Leaks such as executives from SoCalGas, officials from the Governor’s office and state regulatory agencies, local business owners and nearby residents to address the environmental, health, safety and economic issues from several different angles.
ERE Special Seminar
TOWN HALL MEETING: The Aliso Canyon Gas Leak - Is It Safe to Locate Natural Gas Storage Fields Next to Houses? (A dramatization)
February 24, 2016 (Wed)
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Lecture Hall C105, Knight Management Center, Graduate School of Business
The Aliso Canyon gas leak occurred on October 23, 2015 in a natural gas storage field operated by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas). A casing leak in a field well is spewing tons of methane gas into the atmosphere. The leak is located adjacent to the upscale Porter Ranch housing area in the North San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Residents have been complaining of headaches, nosebleeds, nausea, caused by the rotten egg smell of odorant added to the gas. Health experts seem to agree that, while unpleasant, there is no serious long term adverse health effects, nevertheless, the gas company is paying to relocate as many as 4,000 households to motels and other temporary housing. SoCalGas started drilling a relief well to siphon off gas from the leaking well in November and the well is expected to be completed and the old well capped on February 19. There are a lot of issues involved here: The Company has spent $50million so far to contain the leak and relocate residents and it is estimated that up to $1billion will be spent when all is done; who will pay for this? There are many other issues involving health and safety, governmental and regulatory, and environmental concerns (methane is a potent greenhouse gas) to name a few. The California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) is conducting an investigation as to the feasibility of shutting down the storage field altogether.
The Town Hall seminar addressed each of these issues and involves students playing the roles of persons involved such as Executives from SoCalGas, officials from the Governor’s office and state regulatory agencies. Several State and local legislators testified as well as representatives of environmental organizations. Local business owners and nearby residents voiced their concerns about economic effects, health and safety.
The Seminar was co-sponsored by the Department of Energy Resources Engineering and the GSB Energy Club. The Seminar was part of a Winter Quarter class, ERE 167/267, Oil and Gas Property Evaluation taught by Professors Warren Kourt and Kiran Pande.
