Southern California Gas announced Thursday afternoon that it has successfully plugged the Porter Ranch Gas Leak. This development marks the beginning-of-the-end of a months-long ordeal that displaced several thousand people from the Porter Ranch area.
"We have temporarily controlled the natural gas flow from the leaking well and begun the process of sealing the well and permanently stopping the leak," said Jimmie Cho, SoCalGas senior vice president of gas operations and system integrity, in a statement.
SoCalGas made their announcement after successfully intercepting the leaking well with a relief well, drilled over the course of the previous two months.
While the language of the press release uses the word "controlled" instead of stopped, the existence of a functional relief well means the gas is flowing into the relief well instead of leaking to the surface.
Earlier today, the company began pumping heavy fluids into the leaking well. These heavy fluids effectively plug the well at the surface.
Over the next few days, SoCalGas will apply a permanent cap to the well by injecting concrete into the well's base. Once this permanent cap is in place, and approved by state officials, displaced residents can return to their homes.
