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Eastern NE KS | Since '98, I own 72 acres of pasture (agland) that is used for grass hay. Before that, Dad and I rented the ground for the same purpose since the early '80's.
The land sits on a small part of a natural gas storage field that once was an oil field that tapped out in the 1940's. I'm paid $72/year for the easement. The amount was set at $1/acre/year back in the '50's. In addition, gas is made available to the initial standing houses on the acreage for free. I was told the storage feeds Kansas City.
I have 5 wells and a connecting spider web of pipes. Almost all of this stuff is below ground and easily worked around.
For the second time a pipeline started leaking yesterday. Pat, the adjoining retired neighbor walks his and my property just to stretch his legs. Pat found or rather the unusual smell found him on his walk. Then he saw frost on the ground about 60 yards away. He thought it weird to see frost when it is 57*f. In addition, I found the first leak years ago and it was odorless. Today, this leak stinks.
Pat notified the storage company and then me. I told Pat about my first experience with a leak 15 years earlier and then went to see if the storage people were on it. I found the first of many workers. He said he will be turning off the wells feeding the leaking pipe. Service to the house should continue for a while the line is at 530 psi.
We are lucky. The weather is good; the ground is dry. Operators will earn some hefty overtime. Christmas is here.
The leak is on the same line as the previous problem. I hope they don't find a need to replace a 3" line across the land, but it's their easement. | |
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Natural gas storage leak
