[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap] $119.5 million settlement agreement announced Wednesday between prosecutors and local and state agencies over the biggest methane leak in U.S. history is now the biggest settlement in U.S. history as well, all centered on an oil field and natural gas storage facility on the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley.
The Aliso Canyon methane leak, which began in October 2015 at the facility operated by SoCal Gas, underscores the dangers of living in close proximity to oil and natural gas fields. According to a February 2018 report, these types of incidents have occurred all across Los Angeles since the city’s massive oil boom at the turn of the last century.
“Oil and gas seepages have been documented across Los Angeles City, including the Fairfax area, south La Brea, Playa del Rey, Santa Fe Springs, and Echo Park,” the report said. “In 1985, an explosion in the Fairfax area demolished a Ross department store as a result of subsurface gas accumulation. One report links the gas accumulation to a nearby oil well; however, there is still debate as to the root cause of the explosion.”
The Aliso Canyon incident forced the evacuation of some 8,000 residents of Porter Ranch, during the 4-month-long leak of methane gas from the SoCal Gas storage facility, which is literally embedded inside a mountain overlooking the neighborhoods below.
This image shows the methane — which is colorless and odorless — in black, when the leak began: