# Huge methane gas leak in Los Angeles **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 19, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871 "2015-12-19T20:57:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jerry\_smissingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@jerry\_smissingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerry_smissingfinger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/1 "2015-12-19T20:57:36Z")
I was just reading in the mainstream news about a methane gas leak that is dumping thousands of pounds of gas into the atmosphere! Schools being relocated, people being relocated and many people are seriously ill. FAA has established a no fly zone in certain areas due to the possibility of explosions. Any of you good people live out there able to shed some light on this situation? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/2 "2015-12-19T21:02:54Z")
I take it the mainstream news story was light on details. Have you got a link? ---
**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/3 "2015-12-19T21:06:34Z")
I assume this is what the OP is referring to: > **[Odors from Porter Ranch gas leak are just doing their jobs — too well](https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-adv-gas-leak-health-20151220-story.html)** > > Porter Ranch residents suffering from headaches, nausea and other symptoms from a natural gas leak that has displaced thousands are assigning blame to a damaged well in the Santa Susana Mountains north of Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/4 "2015-12-19T21:09:13Z")
I’ve seen it mentioned a couple of times on KTLA, but I ever dug into it. What I saw or heard did seem a little bizarre, almost like the officials didn’t care. ---
**Author:** ![jerry\_smissingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@jerry\_smissingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerry_smissingfinger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/5 "2015-12-19T21:12:49Z")
I heard this on the radio as I am driving but the officials had mentioned that this is an event on land similar to the Horizon rig. Bunch of people sick, schools and residence being relocated. Fracking cause this or what? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/6 "2015-12-19T21:14:59Z")
> [@yearofglad](#): > > I assume this is what the OP is referring to: [Odors from Porter Ranch gas leak are just doing their jobs — too well](http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-adv-gas-leak-health-20151220-story.html) From the article [emphasis mine]: > [@LA Times](#): > > As the leak stretches into its third month, health officials and environmental regulators say that the leaking gas dissipates considerably before reaching residential areas. By the time it reaches the nearest homes, more than a mile away from the stricken well, concentrations are below the detection limits of air quality monitoring equipment and would be harmless to residents — if it weren’t for that putrid additive. > > The sulfur-like compounds it contains, called mercaptans, are not toxic or damaging to the body and do not post long-term risks, public health officials and environmental experts say. It’s the odor itself that is causing health problems in the San Fernando Valley community. > > “It’s so noxious people have a physiologic response,” said Dr. Cyrus Rangan, director of the Los Angeles County health department’s Bureau of Toxicology and Environmental Assessment. So it would seem that the rich douchebags of Porter Ranch are having psychosomatic symptons from the gas leak. (Methane itself is non-toxic, as are the stinky additives.) Boo-hoo to them. But still…three weeks??? That’s ridiculous. Even my HOA fixes problems faster than that! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/7 "2015-12-19T21:18:11Z")
Since the OP is asking about personal experiences, let’s move this to MPSIMS. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![jerry\_smissingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@jerry\_smissingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerry_smissingfinger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/8 "2015-12-19T21:31:45Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > From the article [emphasis mine]: > > So it would seem that the rich douchebags of Porter Ranch are having psychosomatic symptons from the gas leak. (Methane itself is non-toxic, as are the stinky additives.) Boo-hoo to them. > > But still…three weeks??? That’s ridiculous. Even my HOA fixes problems faster than that! WOW! So this has been an ongoing event for months? Take it you don’t reside in Porter Ranch? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/9 "2015-12-19T22:26:03Z")
I blame it all on government over-regulation. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/10 "2015-12-19T22:28:06Z")
This has been going on for a while, I’m surprised it hasn’t received more attention. The problem is that nothing can be done about it right now, and methane being an invisible gas, does not provide any interesting pictures. So the story is that it happened, nothing can be done right now, and there’s nothing to show on TV. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/11 "2015-12-19T22:44:57Z")
This situation and the handling of it stinks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jerry\_smissingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@jerry\_smissingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerry_smissingfinger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/12 "2015-12-19T23:08:20Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I blame it all on government over-regulation. I see what you did there:D ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/13 "2015-12-19T23:12:35Z")
It’s been getting quite a bit of attention on KFI. John and Ken did a live broadcast from the neighborhood earlier this week. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/14 "2015-12-19T23:17:41Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > So it would seem that the rich douchebags of Porter Ranch are having psychosomatic symptons from the gas leak. (Methane itself is non-toxic, as are the stinky additives.) Boo-hoo to them. Where’d you get psychosomatic from? You try to smell natural gas for three months and see how long you last before you start feeling sick to your stomach or get a headache. I remember many years ago I opened my (attached) garage door and was hit with the smell of a gas leak. I walked inside and the whole house reeked of gas. I noticed the stove was turned on (with no flame) and turned if off right away and started opening up windows and doors. I asked my (now ex) wife what was going on. The first thing she said is “I wonder if that’s why I have a headache”. From [here](http://www.kumed.com/~/media/Imported/kumed/documents/kdhe-20methyl-20mercaptan.ashx): Inhalation exposures: Symptoms may include fever, cough, dyspnea, tightness and burning in the chest, dizziness, **headache** , loss of sense of smell, **nausea** , **vomiting** and diarrhea. Non toxic or not (and the victims being rich or otherwise), they still shouldn’t have to smell it…for months on end. I assume you wouldn’t mind if it was happening in your backyard, right? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/15 "2015-12-19T23:26:35Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > So the story is that it happened, nothing can be done right now, and there’s nothing to show on TV. Well, they can show the infrared images, that you see on [this website about the lawsuit](http://www.porterranchlawsuit.com/). Apparently this leak is emitting a huge amount of greenhouse gas. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/16 "2015-12-20T00:08:44Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I take it the mainstream news story was light on details. Have you got a link? _No fucking kidding!_ I saw a little “story” on the TV news and they couldn’t even bother with telling what city or area was affected other than, “Southern California”. :rolleyes: Yeah, thanks for that “in depth reporting”. I was curious, as I know a few people who live down there. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/17 "2015-12-21T03:08:01Z")
It sound more serious than the previous posts suggest: > [@](#): > > The site is leaking up to 145,000 pounds per hour, according to the California Air Resources Board. In just the first month, that’s added up to 80,000 tons, or about a quarter of the state’s ordinary methane emissions over the same period. The Federal Aviation Administration recently banned low-flying planes from flying over the site, since engines plus combustible gas equals kaboom. > **[California Has a Huge Gas Leak, and Crews Can't Stop It Yet](https://www.wired.com/2015/12/massive-gas-leak-california/)** > > Methane, a greenhouse gas 70 times more potent than carbon, has been leaking out of a natural gas storage site in southern California for nearly two months. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/18 "2015-12-21T03:15:23Z")
Out in the oil fields, they have pipes with flames burning to eliminate natural gas buildup. [![](http://modeshift.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nd-fire-in-the-well.jpg) ](http://modeshift.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nd-fire-in-the-well.jpg) [http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xd/460667336.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=87BDDB75DCB2EC55A6A00B83159315BF2B6A5D266AEA58DB7884474D8026F1937E5D1EF4E4BD55DD](http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xd/460667336.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=87BDDB75DCB2EC55A6A00B83159315BF2B6A5D266AEA58DB7884474D8026F1937E5D1EF4E4BD55DD) It prevents a explosive amount from building up. They even piped it into oil field workers homes for cooking and heating. My grandparents used free natural gas from a well in front of their house, for decades, but it was unrefined. Water, sand etc in the gas. Their stove and gas heaters required servicing regularly. Burning off the gas could be an option in this situation, if it can be done in a controlled way. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/19 "2015-12-23T07:33:05Z")
> [@jerry\_smissingfinger](#): > > I heard this on the radio as I am driving but the officials had mentioned that this is an event on land similar to the Horizon rig. > > Bunch of people sick, schools and residence being relocated. > > Fracking cause this or what? I don’t think anyone’s fracking for oil in the city itself, but I could be wrong. Love your screenname, by the way! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871/20 "2015-12-23T11:33:06Z")
I have a hard time believing they can’t stop this leak sooner somehow. I mean, the plan is apparently to drill down, intercept the shaft, and pump in cement. Couldn’t they just drop a hose down with a balloon, inflate it, and then pour adhesive (and later, cement) on top of the balloon plug? It seems likely to me that it’s really an issue of cost. Because the leak affects all of us but has no directly calculable cost, it’s “cheaper” to let it continue while the slow drilling plan proceeds than to take drastic action. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-methane-gas-leak-in-los-angeles/740871.md?page=2)