Aliso Timeline
compiled from various sources including Bloomberg News, LA Daily News, Save Porter Ranch, the CPUC, SoCalGas
Before the blowout:
1938 Oil was discovered in Aliso Canyon. The Tidewater Associated Oil Company (Getty), produced oil and gas from the field
1972 Getty Oil sold the field to Pacific Lighting Corp. which converted it to storage in 1973.
1974 Fire broke out on property, takes several days to extinguish
1979 SCG told DOGGR that it ‘replaced’ the subsurface safety system in SS-25. But per SCG’s Schwecke, SCG removed the
safety valve because it was old, leaking and difficult to find a new part. Instead, the company opted not to replace it
because SS-25 wasn't a 'critical well'.
1994 Well 4-0 was sealed due to damage from the Northridge quake
2008 Sesnon fire broke out on SCG property, responsible for destroying several homes and causing one death
2009 A SCG onsite manager, James Mansdorfer, told his higher ups about the danger from the earthquake fault that
runs directly under the wells, but was told the gas company won’t do anything about it.
2015:
10/23 According to the 2019 Blade Energy root cause analysis report, a Termo Oil employee realized there was a leak on SCG
property. SCG said its workers noticed a smell by well SS-25, but the company didn’t report it to any emergency
agencies {according to the timeline on the SCG website, Immediate action by SoCal Gas to secure area and implement
safety precautions. Officials alerted (LA City Fire, LA County Fire, Hazmat, LA County Dept of Health, DOGGR, SC AQMD,
CPUC, LA County Supervisors, LA City, local schools, Castlebay Lane Charter and Porter Ranch Community Schools).}
10/24 Residents could smell the mercaptans. SPR called 911, AQMD, Supervisor Antonovich’s office, and notified public
via social media.
10/24 The AQMD took air samples after receiving the first of many complaints from more than 2,300 residents (per 2/12/16 memo,
it’s “near daily site inspections, surveillance, and complaint response by district inspectors”. Also, joint inspections w/other
state/local agencies, FLIR cameras to inspect & monitor all accessible wells, 15 additional leaks identified by AQMD and repaired
by SCG, support of CARB/JPL methane measurement by aircraft
10/24 An attempt to stop the leak by pumping polymer brine down the tubing failed; SCG called Boots & Coots and stopped
injecting gas
10/25 The AQMD came out to the area and informed residents there’s a gas leak in well SS25.
10/25 DOC received incident report from SCG
10/25 SPR organized the Porter Ranch Community Forum to inform residents to contact AQMD when they smell odors
10/26 SCG notified LA County Fire chief Daryl Osby about the problem
10/26 SPR informed Castlebay ES and PRCS about the gas (neither school had been officially notified by authorities)
and provides them documentation of the health impacts from mercaptan exposure
10/26 SPR attended Open House at SCG and asked about the health effects of mercaptans. Its representatives reply,
“That is a good question. Why don’t you look it up?”
10/28 SCG notified Public Health about the leak
10/28 DPH issued fact sheet
10/28 SCG began posting updates on website
10/30 SPR and Food & Water Watch organized a march that started at the corner of Tampa & Rinaldi (near the front
entrance of the Aliso facility) and ended up at Castlebay to call attention to the many symptoms (headaches,
nausea, nosebleeds, etc.) children are suffering inside their classrooms.
11/1 OEHHA began air sampling
11/4 SPR attended PRNC meeting, asked questions of SCG & Co. Health officials. SPR presented info from the Center for
Disease Control about the health effects of mercaptans, including the fact that there have not been any studies on the
long term impact, gave this info to the health officials & residents. SPR took an informal health survey of health
symptoms.
11/5 Steve Conley (on invite from Tim O’Connor of the EDF) attempted to fly over AC to measure methane levels, but SCG
refused to allow this.
11/5 AQMD issued a “Notice to comply” to abate the release of mercaptans to SCG
11/6 SCG attempted to stop leak using brine solution; removed ice blockage
11/7 Steve Conley returned (with county ok)
11/7 CARB began fly overs to measure green house gases
11/10 A preliminary study by the AQMD: benzene levels in the PR Estates sat at 3.7 ppb that day, which was
seven times higher than the normal range for the Los Angeles area (0.1 to 0.5 ppb).
11/11 SCG reported preliminary analysis of condition of SS-25 well
11/11 Preliminary Environmental Health Assessment released by PH
11/13 Well kill attempt, by pumping down CaCl2 down the tubing, which opened a vent, failed
11/13 PH issued an "Aliso Canyon Gas Leak Health Fact Sheet"
11/14 SPR held a community forum at Castlebay with experts to discuss a health survey, air quality monitoring, and effects of urban
oil & gas drilling on health. Info was given about calling AQMD, which requires three persons to call in order to get AQMD to
come out to take an air sample.
11/15 Well kill attempt #3 caused increased surface fissues
11/18 SCG resumed efforts to stop the flow of gas by pumping fluids down the well, kill attempt #4 failed
11/18 DOGGR issued emergency order; ordered SCG to turn over testing data and submit plans to plug the leak
11/19 SCG announced it will start digging a relief well
11/19 PH issued a Public Health directive from the PH Bureau of Health Protection and ordered SCG to pay for relocation
11/19 Preliminary Environmental Health Assessment from PH to SCG that said only source of exposure is mercaptans
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/docs/AlisoCanyon.pdf
11/20 Preliminary estimate of Greenhouse Gas emissions to date:
http://www.caloes.ca.gov/ICESite/Documents/Aliso%20Canyon%20Natural%20Gas%20Leak%2011-20-15.pdf
11/20 CARB released report that methane is being released at a rate of about 50,000 kg/hr.
11/20 Residents called SCG about relocation but discovered that employees don’t know anything about it. SPR got SCG
to update its website with a number for residents to call.
11/20 City Council special motion asked SCG, PH, DOGGR, AQMD, LAFD and LACoFD to appear at city council meeting. This motion
referred to the PH fact sheet that said no long term harm
11/23 DOC received an informal complaint from a resident wondering when there will be comment from CPUC as his children
are getting nosebleeds at their schools
11/23 LAUSD issued a statement that the two PR schools will stay put, basing its decision on the 11/19 Public Health statement
11/23 AQMD issued a notice of violation for creating a public nuisance to SCG
11/23 200 persons showed up at Tampa & Rinaldi for a protest.
11/24 Well kill attempt #5 failed, water and barite pill pumped down, increasing the gas flow
11/24 SCG’s Gillian Wright and Jimmie Cho updated the BOS. SPR gave testimony. AQMD reported it received 660
complaints to date
11/25 BOS discussed Aliso during meeting
11/25 PH issued a revised fact sheet entitled: Aliso Canyon Gas Leak Health Fact Sheet
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/docs/AlisoCanyonFactSheet.pdf
11/25 Well kill attempt #6, with a lost circulation material pill, increased the crater size, gas flow rates also increased.
11/25 COLA sent letter to CPUC signed by City Attorney Mike Feuer and Council member Mitchell Englander asking for immediate
investigation
11/27 SPR selected R.Rex Parris law firm to conduct a class action lawsuit.
11/27 More than 130 families relocated so far (over 550 requests had been received by SCG). Didn’t include the number
of families who self-relocated.
11/28 Conley: emissions were about 16 percent higher than he’d measured a few days before the kill attempt. At its peak, Aliso
emitted almost 128,000 pounds of methane an hour, Conley estimated.
11/30 SCG said repair may take four months
12/1 SPR & FWW hold a protest before the LA City Council meeting
12/1 After residents testified at the City Council meeting about their health complaints, SCG CEO Dennis Arrioli apologized,
“the concern, the discomfort, the inconvenience, the frustration, the confusion, and the bad smell.” SCG Execs Gillian
Wright and Jimmie Cho updated the Council. PH gave a report regarding health effects related to Aliso Canyon.
12/1 PH interim chief Cynthia Harding sent BOS report that still listed the mercaptans as the source of symptoms
12/2 1,000 families have requested relocation
12/2 Earthworks sent two operators to hike with SPR & FWW, and get the first FLIR camera footage of the blowout
12/2 Mayor Garcetti called it a natural disaster during a visit to PRCS: "This is an environmental disaster. It's devastating. It makes you question the long-term sustainability of a carbon-based power system."
12/3 SCG addressed PRNC meeting
12/4 Work on a relief well began
12/4 Letter from City of Lancaster to CPUC (from Rex Parris) requesting an OII into SCG’s management of Aliso and
disallowing SCG from passing along any of the costs to ratepayers.
12/4 LAUSD medical team sent a letter to superintendent Cortines summarizing PH assessment & Harding letter
12/6 FLIR camera footage was shown at a community meeting in Porter Ranch. Global Community Monitoring discussed
air quality sampling. The R.Rex Parris law firm explained the concept of class action lawsuits.
12/7 LA city attorney Feuer sues SCG in civil lawsuit
12/9 Erin Brockovich addressed 2,000 people at Shepherd of the Hills. She warned them not to trust the gas company
when its officials say the air is safe.
12/10 DOGGR issued second emergency order, requesting additional testing and well data
12/10 The AQMD filed petition for order for abatement with the AQMD hearing board
12/10 FAA banned flights over leak
12/11 Dr. Rangan of PH appeared on CBS2 news, said the repair is taking longer than thought, but said it’s the mercaptans
that are making residents ill.
12/12 Community held “Red Line” protest at the SCG gate at Tampa & Sesnon, calling on Gov. Brown to shut down the facility.
12/15 BOS declared state of emergency, call on Governor Brown to do the same
12/15 The LA Weekly interviewed SCG’s Rodger Schwecke. When asked about the safety valve, he said it wasn't damaged.
It actually wasn't there. "We removed that valve in 1979," he said.
12/15 Resolution for the city council to support the county’s local emergency proclamation
12/15 City Council special motion re SCG to offer free, temp relocation (this was after relocation was started – by the court,
to address problems by the process)
12/16 A temporary SCG resource center opened at shopping center
12/16 City Council introduced property tax relief motions
12/17 The LAUSD school board voted to relocate Castlebay and PRCS
12/17 Meeting #1 of the PR Community Advisory Committee with reps from PRNC, NWNC, CNC, SPR, LAUSD, some HOAs, reps
from Antonovich and Englander’s offices; discussed were mostly administration details, also filitration
12/18 Gov. Brown sent letter to SCG saying he has asked agencies to investigate the wells and the public health concerns
12/18 2,000 families have been relocated
12/21 SPR met with state senator Fran Pavley about the goal to shut the facility down. Also asked for the CPUC to review
the facility, and for Gov. Brown to come to PR to meet with us.
12/21 SCG opened a Community Resource Center by the PR Ralphs, utilized Mary McDaniel to falsely reassure residents re:
the benzene, other health concerns
12/22 Well kill #7 heavier density fluid used but crater continued to widen
12/22 LA City attorney filed restraining order ag SCG to force speeding up of relocation
12/23 EDF released infrared video
12/23 CARB issued report w/GHG effects to date
12/23 SPR met with Assemblyman Scott Wilk
12/23 Judge ordered parties (COLA and SCG) to reach agreement re relocation
12/24 Another attempt to stop leak failed
12/29 EPA opened investigation
12/29 Meeting #2 of PRCAC. Guests from LAPD, Wright & LaFever from SCG; discussed: vacant houses, relocation of
schools, air filtration, relocation
12/3 SPR met with Congress member Brad Sherman, who sent letter to Gov. Brown requesting the governor issue a State
of Emergency
Dec/Jan CALOES issued a FAQ that parroted info by other agencies; mentioned 15 minor methane leaks
​
AQMD South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOS LA County Board of Supervisors
CARB California Air Resource Board
CNC Chatsworth Neighborhood Council
COLA City of Los Angeles
CPUC California Public Utilities Commission (part of California Dept of Conservation)
DOC California Dept of Conservation
DOGGR California Division of Oil Gas Geothermal Resources (part of California Dept of Conservation)
EDF Environmental Defense Fund
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency
FWW Food & Water Watch
LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District
NWNC Northridge West Neighborhood Council
OEHHA California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
PH LA County Dept of Public Health
PR Porter Ranch
PRCAC Porter Ranch Community Advisory Committee
PRNC Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council
SCG Southern California Gas Company
SPR Save Porter Ranch
​