February 26, 2009-
BAINBRIDGEA gas well managed by Range Resources of Hartville blew a relief valve sometime on Friday, spewing brine water and oil up to an acre away, according to Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Burge.
The well is located in a deeply wooded area off of Snyder Road near Lucky Bell.
Burge said the pressurized oily spray shot up in the air and coated trees and saturated the snow and ice covered landscape. Windy conditions added to the situation. The spray also fell on a frozen stream.
Workers scraped off the oil and chemicals into a plastic lined pit created to hold it until spring when trucks can drive to the site to remove it.
Burge said the only vehicle that can currently navigate the soft ground and snowy terrain is a four-wheeler.
He said there should be no lasting damage to the environment because the snow absorbed the spray preventing it from seeping into the ground and streams.
The well was closed, creating a problem for several homes that use the gas for heating, according to a spokesperson at the Fieldstone Therapeutic Riding Center, near where the well is located. One of those houses is on FTRC’s property.
Firefighters from Chagrin Falls and Bainbridge spent four hours looking for the well after a South Russell man complained of a strong smelling odor surrounding his Ashleigh Circle home shortly after midnight Saturday.
A spokeswoman from Range Resources was unavailable for comment when called Tuesday morning.
Burge said the gas well is an older well and he did not know how often it was inspected.
Original Source: http://www.cleveland.com/westgeaugasun/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1235657267194840.xml&coll=4
