Natural gas leak in Porter Ranch, California, stopped after 4 months

On Thursday, a damaged gas well in Porter Ranch, California, finally stopped leaking, four months after it was first discovered that the well was spewing out natural gas.

Crews drilled down almost 8,500 feet to pierce the casing, and the well was then injected with a mud-like compound. Crews could begin pumping concrete into it as early as Friday. The leak was found on Oct. 23, and at its peak in November, the well was releasing close to 60,000 kilograms of methane an hour into the atmosphere, the Los Angeles Times reports. Residents complained about the smell, saying it permeated their furniture and carpets, and nearly 5,000 households moved out of Porter Ranch due to health concerns. The leak has cost $300 million, and there are 67 pending lawsuits against Southern California Gas Co.

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