A second attempt to cap a gas leak that has forced the
evacuations of hundreds of people in southwest China is set for
Wednesday afternoon.
"The decision on the second capping operation was made after
lengthy discussions by engineers," said Du Haiyang, deputy
magistrate of Xuanhan County, Sichuan Province.
The leak happened last Thursday at the Qingxi No. 1 Gas Well in
Qingxi Town, northeastern Sichuan, during drilling. More than
12,000 people were evacuated immediately after the leak.
The first capping attempt was carried out early Monday, but
failed because of the complicated conditions at the well.
Most of the 12,000 residents returned home after local
environmental protection authorities said no toxic chemicals such
as sulfurated hydrogen and sulfur dioxide, were detected in the
air.
"But 723 other villagers still cannot go home because their
houses are within 500 meters of the well," said Liang Tao, head of
Qingxi Town.
Xuanhan County, about 500 kilometers northeast of Chengdu,
capital of Sichuan, is one of China's major natural gas bases. The
county is investing heavily in the development of its gas
reserves.
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2006)