Remediation at the site of last summer’s explosion in Wheatley will remain paused as a pipe is installed to vent any further gas releases in the area.
Work has been stalled since July 6 when a gas release was detected at the well closest to the site of the August 26 explosion. Work crews were in the process of installing a large conductor pipe over the existing well when the gas was detected.
To expedite remediation at the site, workers are now planning to install an additional conductor pipe in the municipal parking lot nearby. The pipe will vent any potential gas release away from workers once remediation continues. Installation of the new pipe is expected to begin this week.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said the two-hour gas release on July 6 measured at 24 parts per billion in the atmosphere, which is less than one-hundredth of the amount considered a safety hazard.
The municipality said at no time was there any risk to the community beyond the evacuation zone. As well, there has been no gas emission since that time.