Wheatley Updates

One year ago tomorrow, the community of Wheatley was stunned by a gas explosion in the downtown core.

Today, as we continue efforts to address the situation, council would like to pay tribute to the citizens of Wheatley who have endured a year of uncertainty while a team of professionals worked to determine the cause of the explosion.

During this time the citizens of Wheatley have worked tirelessly to advocate, collaborate and work with municipal and provincial officials to resolve issues. Between volunteers and organized citizen groups, together members of the community have been unrelenting in their commitment to the downtown core of Wheatley and envisioning what the future could hold.

While there is still work to be done, on behalf of council, we remain committed to helping the community of Wheatley as it moves forward to renewed vibrancy. We appreciate the support and passion from the citizens and business owners of Wheatley. #Wheatley Strong”

Darrin Canniff,

Mayor, Chatham-Kent

Conductor Pipe Coring Almost Complete on APEC 1

The coring of the conductor pipe on the APEC 1 well in Wheatley will be completed by mid-next week.

Once that is completed, work crews will undertake geophysical tests to ensure the site is ready for the next phase of plugging the well with cement.

There has been no gas emission at the site since July 6.

If at any time residents detect the smell of gas, they are asked to immediately call 9-1-1.

Media Release

August 23, 2022

APEC 1 work continues

The coring of the conductor pipe on the APEC 1 well in Wheatley is now underway and will continue for the next several days in preparation for the plugging of the well.

When the next steps in the workplan are completed, the well will be plugged with cement, as was done with the previous two wells found in the area.

There has been no gas emission at the site since July 6.

If at any time residents detect the smell of gas, they are asked to immediately call 9-1-1.

APEC 1 work continues

With the Installation of a conductor pipe on the APEC 1 well in Wheatley completed, work crews will spend the next several days monitoring the site, finalizing plans and implementing well preparations to eventually plug the well.

Once the final workplan is established the well will be plugged with cement, as was done with the previous two wells found in the area.

There has been no gas emission at the site since July 6.

If at any time residents detect the smell of gas at any time, they are asked to immediately call 9-1-1.

Installation of APEC 1 Conductor Pipe Well Complete Installation of the conductor pipe on the APEC 1 well in Wheatley was completed Monday.

Along with the installation of the 13” pipe, work crews have also removed the former casing from the approximately 100-foot deep well in the municipal parking lot. That casing, estimated at between 75 and 100 years old was heavily corroded

Once further monitoring is completed, workers will begin plugging the well, possibly by the end of this week.

There has been no gas emission at the site since July 6.

If at any time residents detect the smell of gas at any time, they are asked to immediately call 9-1-1.

Additional testing at the APEC 1 one site will push back remediation efforts until next week.

Work crews are examining several procedures related to how to best cap the well.

Work had been expected to resume Friday, however, additional time is needed to before entering the next phase due to the testing.

When work resumes, an odour of gas may be detected. If residents at any time detect the smell of gas, they are asked to immediately call 9-1-1.

Work was paused at the APEC 1 site while crews prepare to do additional testing following last Wednesday’s gas release.

The two-hour release was measured at 24 parts per billion in the atmosphere, less than one-hundredth of the amount that would represent a safety hazard. Some smell was noticeable at the site.

There has been no gas emission since that time.

A thorough review of the gas monitoring system and health and safety plans confirmed that no further action is required.

Work is expected to resume by the end of the week at which time an odour of gas may be detected. If residents at any time detect the smell of gas, they are asked to immediately call 9-1-1.

Workers were in the process of excavating around the well in preparation for driving a larger conductor pipe over the existing well when the release occurred.

At the time Chatham-Kent Fire Chief Chris Case confirmed that the safety plans guiding the operations worked as planned. “Gas was collected and directed to the vent to be flared. At no time was there a risk to our community located beyond the evacuation zone.”

At approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, monitoring systems picked up a release of gas while crews were working at the APEC 1 site.

Work stopped and samples of the gas were taken for analysis.

At approximately 5 p.m. the release of gas ended.

Officials are gathering and reviewing data to determine when work can resume.

Workers were in the process of excavating around the well in preparation for driving a larger conductor pipe over the existing well when the release occurred.

Chatham-Kent Fire Chief Chris Case confirmed that the safety plans guiding the operations worked as planned. “Gas was collected and directed to the vent to be flared. At no time was there a risk to our community located beyond the evacuation zone.”

Chief Case noted that a sufficient amount of gas was present for those nearby to detect a smell. He noted that instruments detected 24 parts per billion in the atmosphere, less than one-hundredth of the amount that would represent a safety hazard.

Additional equipment has arrived on-site and work crews will start the process of driving a larger conductor pipe over the existing APEC 1 well.

The initial work completed on the well indicates it is approximately 100 feet deep and was most likely constructed as a source of water.

Once the pipe-driving is completed, remediation will begin. It is estimated that drilling and remediation will be completed during the next two to three weeks.

No gas has been detected so far throughout the process, however, the team will sample for analysis if this changes.