Evacuation order issued following gas leak

COLUMBIANA -- A well-control specialist was expected on scene Tuesday evening to the Tarka Pad on Fairfield Road near Columbiana where an uncontrolled gas flow from a broken wellhead prompted a 1-mile evacuation of about 450 residents earlier in the day.

Hilcorp Energy, who owns the well, reported that a third-party contractor damaged a wellhead at 9:19 a.m., causing what Ohio Department of Natural Resources Regional Emergency Operations and Response Manager Fred Romeo called a "well-control incident." The gas leak prompted an emergency shutdown of all devices and a shut-in of the pad was implemented.

Following Hilcorp's emergency protocol, an evacuation of homes within a 1-mile radius followed the shut-in. The evacuation zone extends from Fairfield School Road to just north of state Route 517 and also includes areas north and south of Woodvale Lane, just north of Crestview School Road, and westbound Lower Elkton Road to state Route 558, just west of Crestview High School. Residents were being asked to avoid Fairfield School Road between Crestview Road and state Route 558.

According to an emailed statement from Nick Piatek, director of Government and Public Affairs at Hilcorp Energy Company, a contractor vehicle working on Hilcorp's Tarka location in Fairfield Township struck a producing well on the pad, causing a release of natural gas. Personnel were immediately evacuated and all other wells and facilities on the location were shut in. No injuries were reported.

The Columbiana Fire Department was first on the scene and began to evacuate the area after meeting with a representative of the gas energy company. New Waterford and East Palestine Fire Departments as well as the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office assisted with the evacuation efforts. The Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) also responded to the incident as did the ODNR and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The American Red Cross was notified and a shelter was opened at Crestview Elementary School, 3407 Middleton Road, Columbiana.

"Unified Command felt comfortable with the 1-mile radius," CCEMA Peggy Clark said. "We weren't sure how the gas was escaping and we felt the one-mile protocol was what was needed to ensure everyone's safety."

Romeo confirmed the leak was above ground and the gas was shooting upward into the atmosphere and Kurt Kollar of the Ohio EPA said that was the best-case scenario.

"Given the atmospheric conditions, the high winds, it's readily dispersing and we are picking up no ground level detections for explosive gas methane and volatile organic compounds," he said. "So far, everything is good and going as we anticipated or as we were expecting."

The Ohio EPA began air monitoring immediately. That air monitoring is ongoing and includes two miles downwind of the pad. The air data has not raised alarms but the evacuation order remains in place until further notice. Anyone with an urgent need to return to their home was to report to the Crestview Elementary -- the site of the Red Cross' temporary shelter for displaced residents -- and would be escorted to their property by response officials under continuous air monitoring.

Clark said that while air quality remains at safe levels, she warned that could quickly change, and while nobody could be forced to leave their homes, she said all agencies strongly recommend it.

"We recommend the one-mile excavation for your safety," she reiterated. "There is always the possibility of an ignition source and wind conditions can change."

Clark dispelled reports that it would take up to four days to stop the leak due to a specialized tool needed to turn off the wellhead. Clark said, to the best of her knowledge, all necessary equipment has been immobilized and was en route. As for now, Clark cannot say when residents will be able to return home.

"Until those specialists are here and on site and evaluate exactly what needs to be done to stop the flow of gas, we won't have any idea how long the evacuation will last," she said.

In a press release issued Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine announced the ODNR Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management was responding to the scene, coordinating with first responders, Hilcorp Energy Company, the Ohio EPA, and oil and gas emergency contractors to mitigate the situation.

Emergency shut-down devices for the remaining 12 wells on the pad were activated and all remaining wells and pipelines were shut-in. According to the governor's press release, Hilcorp secured the services of a well control specialist who was expected to arrive on site Tuesday night to begin operations to regain control of the well. Ohio EPA was providing incident support.

Baseline air monitoring was occurring and will continue until the situation is under control. Any updates regarding evacuations will be made by local EMA officials and ODNR will continue to work with all state and local authorities to monitor the situation until the operator regains control of the well, the press release said.

"The Ohio Department of Health recommends to always follow the instructions and recommendations of firefighters, first responders, and public health officials. Unless you are ordered to evacuate, stay in your home with the doors and windows closed. If you can close the fresh-air intake of your air conditioning system, do so. If you are experiencing unusual shortness of breath, dizziness, or clumsiness that you believe may be related to this release contact a health care provider," the press release said.

Hilcorp Energy Company established a claims hotline for anyone impacted by the evacuation at 877-872-1288.

Sheriff Brian McLaughlin said his deputies mostly assisted with traffic control and the evacuation. He reported no problems during the notification process with residents, noting the Columbiana Fire Department did a lot of the knocking on doors. The sheriff's office posted the 1-mile evacuation radius, with a map showing the location, and roads on social media.

Clark said the CCEMA used the local Wireless Emergency Notification System and IPAWS, the federal system, to send messages to residents in the affected area regarding the evacuation. She said IPAWS can only be used for life and death situations and this was one of those situations.

Clark said both the Columbiana County Humane Society and Angels of Animals had offered to help anyone from the evacuated area who had pets. She did say there were a couple of farms with livestock in the evacuated area, too, but how to handle those animals would have to be evaluated.

According to the Hilcorp website, the company has nearly 145 producing wells in Ohio and Pennsylvania covering over 75,000 gross acres.