Experts are studying a second plan to cap a leaking gas well in
southwest where more than 12,000 residents have been evacuated,
after a first sealing attempt failed early Sunday, local sources
said.
Cao Yaofeng, vice president of China Petrochemical Corporation,
and experts from Beijing have arrived at the leaking well site in
Sichuan Province and are working on a second plan, said Zhang
Chongyao, a spokesman of Xuanhan county government.
The leakage occurred around 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Qingxi No. 1
Gas Well in Qingxi Town, Xuanhan County, according to Yu Longhai,
an official with Dazhou city government.
Emergency workers set fire in four sites 100 meters from around
the leaking well to alleviate the harmfulness of the gas, about
three hours after the leakage.
More than 12,000 residents in eight villages were evacuated to
safety, and no casualties have been reported, said Yu.
The evacuated went to their relatives or were arranged to stay
in township government's meeting rooms, schools or broadcasting
stations, according to Wang Nengqiu, Magistrate of Xuanhan
County.
A first capping plan, which was carried out at 1:10 a.m. Sunday,
was announced a failure due to complicated conditions under the
well.
"About 300 cubic meters of mud was infused into the well in the
first capping, but no effect is achieved," said He Shenghou, deputy
chief of the emergency headquarters at the site.
Flames of fires are still 20 to 30 meters high around the well,
according to emergency crew.
Tests of leaked gas contained no sulfureted hydrogen, which is
harmful to people, local environmental authorities said, adding
that sulfur dioxide was not found either in the air.
More than 400 primary and middle school students, who were
evacuated in the accident, will resume classes on Monday, according
to local education authorities.
Residents who live 500 meters or further from the well began
togo back home Sunday afternoon and those within a radius of 500
meters around the well will continue to stay where they are,
according to town government officials.
The emergency headquarters have not decided when to carry out
the second capping plan.
Xuanhan County, about 500 kilometers northeast of Chengdu,
capital of Sichuan, is one of China's important proven natural gas
bases. The country has begun to pour huge investment into the
development of its rich gas resource.
(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2006)