By Alicia Venter | NB Indy
The State of California and the City of Newport Beach began an emergency remediation effort last month to address the source of methane and oil leakage, first discovered in late October, at a residential home near Marcus Avenue and 36th Street. The leakage, believed to originate from an abandoned 1920s-era private oil well, forced an emergency evacuation of the neighborhood.
When methane was found that was posing a fire and safety hazards, city crews and Orange County Health officials responded, installing ventilation systems to safely vent the methane.
The remediation work was expected to take between three and four weeks, extending through late December. However, the project “is taking longer than initially anticipated,” the city said in a news release, “due to unforeseen technical challenges encountered during drilling.”
“While this delay is frustrating for everyone involved, permanently sealing the well at its source is critical to protecting public safety and preventing future hazards,” Newport Beach Utilities Director Mark Vukojevic said.
According to the city, the operation has been successful in locating the underground pipe associated with the historic oil well at 500 feet deep, but crews have been unable to drill into the pipe, a necessary step before plugging and sealing the well.
“Crews have tried several different drilling methods and drill bits but have not been able to successfully penetrate the cast-iron pipe,” the news release said.
Now, the state and contractors are deciding what techniques to use moving forward.
The operation is paid for through a state fund for abandoned oil wells with no known owners, also known as “orphan” wells. The city is supporting the operation by facilitating the construction and street closures, notifying residents and overseeing the safety of the operation.
This effort requires continuous activity and will generate noise along with restricted garage access for some homes, removal of on-street parking and traffic controls. Residents should expect:
- Limited or no access to garages near the work zone
- Full street closure at the drilling site (Marcus Avenue and 36th Street)
- Removal of on-street parking and detoured pedestrian access
- Heavy equipment and contractor activity throughout the month
- Street restoration and repaving after the project concludes
Trash services will continue as scheduled, with contractor assistance, and detour signage will be posted.
“The City recognizes the hardship this emergency work has placed on the neighborhood and continues to communicate directly with affected residents as conditions evolve,” the news release continued.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for Newport Notified text alerts to receive emergency information.
