Major Natural Gas Leak in Southern California Still Months from Fix

The escape of tons of natural gas from under a Los Angeles neighborhood is taking months to stop because of pressure from the leak.

The leak at Porter Ranch started in October, and likely won’t be fixed for at least two more months. Officials have relocated several thousand residents who said the stench made them sick.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the leak persists because workers were unable to plug it and instead have the painstaking task of drilling two relief wells.

Officials with Southern California Gas estimate the wells may not be finished until the end of February, or even later.

The new pipes will meet about 1.5 miles down, where the well emerges from stone that creates a natural cavity to hold the gas.