LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

SoCalGas Operations Update — SoCalGas continues to make progress on relief well number one, reaching a measured depth of 8,615 feet.  As we move forward, there are three major milestones – the "three C's" – to stopping the leak:

• Controlling the natural gas that is leaking:
  • This step consists of approaching the target well along the most precise path possible so the drill bit is in the best position to drill through it, and then pumping heavy fluids into the target well to stop the flow of gas.
  • We expect this step to begin within the next several days.
• Cementing and stabilizing the target well so that it is permanently sealed:
  • When the flow of gas has been stopped, SoCalGas will pump enough cement to displace the fluids and mud and leave a cement seal that will cut off the target well from the reservoir, permanently stopping the leak at its source.
  • This step will take multiple days after controlling the flow of gas.
• Confirmation from DOGGR that the target well is permanently sealed:
  • SoCalGas will work with the regulating agency, the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources to confirm that the well leak is permanently stopped.
  • At that point, it is anticipated that no more gas will leak from the well and any remaining odors associated with the leak are expected to quickly dissipate.
  • This step will take multiple days after cementing the well.

We remain on schedule with relief well number one to stop the leak by late February or sooner.  Crews continue to set up rig equipment on relief well number two.

SoCalGas Notification to Residents
SoCalGas will make at least two notifications to residents. The first will be when the leak has been controlled. The second will be when SoCalGas receives confirmation from DOGGR. SoCalGas will attempt to call or email all residents who requested relocation assistance from SoCalGas as well as issue a press release, post information on the AlisoUpdates.com and provide updates through social media. To ensure you receive the latest updates regarding Aliso Canyon, please fill out our Aliso Canyon Updates form.  Get more information here:  https://www.alisoupdates.com/acu-return-home-faq.

South Coast Air Quality Management District Findings on Benzene Concentration in Porter Ranch
Recently the SCAQMD published findings that show that average benzene concentrations and the range of 12-hour and 24-hour benzene concentrations (average, minimum and maximum) in the Porter Ranch area are lower than those in surrounding communities.  A graphical representation of these findings is available at: http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/compliance/aliso-cyn/graphs_020116.pdf?sfvrsn=12

SoCalGas Recognizes the Impact on the Community
SoCalGas is working every day to address concerns of members of the community, whether they've chosen to take advantage of temporary housing accommodations or have remained in Porter Ranch. SoCalGas has established multiple ways to support residents during this unfortunate situation. We have set up a dedicated website, a Community Resource Center, and dedicated phone lines for claims or temporary relocation assistance.

Relocation Updates
As of Feb. 10, 2016, 1,726 (more than a third) of the residents who chose to relocate have checked out of their temporary accommodations.

• Households placed: 4,645
• Households in progress: 861
• Households checked out: 1,726
• Air scrubbers installed in homes: 5,467
• Weatherization of homes: 5,410
• Plug-in air filters delivered to homes: 3,231

About Southern California Gas Co: Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.

This press release contains statements that are not historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "contemplates," "intends," "depends," "should," "could," "would," "will," "confident," "may," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "target," "pursue," "goals," "outlook," "maintain" or similar expressions, or discussions of guidance, strategies, plans, goals, opportunities, projections, initiatives, objectives or intentions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including, among others: local, regional, national and international economic, competitive, political, legislative and regulatory conditions and developments; actions and the timing of actions, including issuances of permits to construct and licenses for operation, by the California Public Utilities Commission, California State Legislature, U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, California Energy Commission, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, and other regulatory, governmental and environmental bodies in the United States; the timing and success of business development efforts and construction, maintenance and capital projects, including risks in obtaining, maintaining or extending permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations on a timely basis and risks in obtaining adequate and competitive financing for such projects; energy markets, including the timing and extent of changes and volatility in commodity prices, and the impact of any protracted reduction in oil and natural gas prices from historical averages; the impact on the value of our natural gas storage assets from low natural gas prices, low volatility of natural gas prices and the inability to procure favorable long-term contracts for natural gas storage services; delays in the timing of costs incurred and the timing of the regulatory agency authorization to recover such costs in rates from customers; deviations from regulatory precedent or practice that result in a reallocation of benefits or burdens among shareholders and ratepayers; capital markets conditions, including the availability of credit and the liquidity of our investments; inflation and interest rates; the availability of electric power and natural gas, and natural gas pipeline and storage capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the North American transmission grid, pipeline explosions and equipment failures; cybersecurity threats to the energy grid, natural gas storage and pipeline infrastructure, the information and systems used to operate our businesses and the confidentiality of our proprietary information and the personal information of our customers, terrorist attacks that threaten system operations and critical infrastructure, and wars; weather conditions, conservation efforts, natural disasters, catastrophic accidents, and other events that may disrupt our operations, damage our facilities and systems, and subject us to third-party liability for property damage or personal injuries some of which may or may not be covered by insurance; risks that our partners or counterparties will be unable or unwilling to fulfill their contractual commitments; business, regulatory, environmental and legal decisions and requirements; the inability or determination not to enter into long-term supply and sales agreements or long-term firm capacity agreements due to insufficient market interest, unattractive pricing or other factors; the resolution of litigation; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that the company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forecasts or projections or other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.