HOW LONG HAD GAS BEEN LEAKING?
A pipeline carrying natural gas from fracking operations has been found to be leaking just north of Fort Lupon near a school bus stop. The toxic gasses benzene and methane were detected. It is unclear how long the pipeline had been leaking – the information available seems to indicate that random tests using temporary air quality monitoring equipment first detected the leak. Then drone mapping, optical gas imaging, and remote methane detection equipment were used to pinpoint the source of the gas emissions.
The operator has capped part of the pipeline in the impacted area and will finish finding the leaking pipe and repair it. News reports state that the leak originated either from a gathering or gas consolidation line.
The leak occurred near Weld County Road 20 adjacent to a Weld Re-8 School District bus stop. State health officials are in communication with the school district to take necessary precautions. News reports do not indicate if students had health impacts as a result of this exposure.
