After more than three years of uncertainty in the wake of the 2021 gas explosion, Wheatley residents may soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Drilling, casing and cementing of an abandoned wooden-cased petroleum well at 17 Talbot St. E that was discovered in September has now been completed. Since then, a monitoring well that had been continuously emitting H2S and methane gas since 2021 is no longer producing further gas signatures.
According to municipal officials, this suggests “that the issue may have been resolved.”
“The team is very happy with the results of the project so far and are optimistic that this is the solution to the gas emissions on site,” said Ryan Brown, CK’s director of Public Works, in a news release. “The community has been very patient and understanding while we worked through this project, and we are excited to share these results and help Wheatley move forward into a prosperous future.”
The municipality will be conducting further testing of the monitoring well to confirm if the ongoing work has been successful in stopping the gas migration in Downtown Wheatley.
The abandoned petroleum was discovered in September during excavation work and an investigation around the site of the August 21, 2021 gas explosion.
All excavation has now been completed and the equipment will soon be moving off of the site. Residents can expect intermittent road closures beginning Friday and into next week to allow trucks to be loaded.
Final reports on the municipality’s investigation into potentially dangerous gas wells in downtown Wheatley are expected later this year.
For more information and updates about the Wheatley gas investigation, click here.
