The morning of March 4, 2010, the Stratus technician was preparing for a site meeting at ARCO 154 (Torrance) and smell gas outside the remedial compound. During the day of the observed conditions, the SVE system was offline awaiting parts.   The technician began applying soapy water to the gas line fittings and to The Gas Company supplied gas meter and line.  The technician discovered that one of the two union fittings atop the gas meter was leaking.  The supply line valve upstream of the gas meter was immediately closed, and the leak was verified to be stopped.  The technician immediately called The Gas Company to report the leak and schedule an inspection.

A representative from The Gas Company arrived at the site and confirmed one of the unions (upstream of the meter) was leaking and that both of the fittings “were not very tight”.  The Gas Co. inspected the gaskets integral to the unions and found that one of gaskets had been pinched and deformed during the meter installation by The Gas Company.  Both gaskets were replaced, the unions were correctly tightened, and the repair verified by The Gas Company.

Based on the condition, Stratus plans to accelerate our routine (annual interval) site inspections to verify the integrity of individual remedial systems.

Additional details can be read through the secure login under the Incident and Near Miss Projects.