East Texas

By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer

EASTON - More than a dozen Easton residents will remain in hotels while Anadarko Petroleum Corporation workers search for the cause of a gas well leak along Farm Road 2906.

Residents were evacuated Monday when a gas company employee saw gas spewing from a well's casing collar during a routine inspection. Gregg County Sheriff's Office deputies contacted approximately nine families in the eastern grid and asked them to relocate.

Lt. Mike Claxton with the Gregg County Sheriff's Office said the leak was low risk, but there is still a potential for fire.

Wild Well Control, a Houston-based firefighting well control and engineering service provider, was called to the location Monday night to close the well and begin repairs on the well. On Wednesday, Wild Well Control encountered a split in the hole when they moved to a depth of 8,900 feet. This split caused a delay in identifying the source of the leak.

"The company has been unable to shut down the well or begin repairs because of the leak," Claxton said.

Anadarko will continue to pay for temporary housing for families inconvenienced by the evacuation.

Easton Police Department officers remain on scene blocking off traffic to Farm Road 2906, and officials estimate the road will remain closed and residents will possibly not be allowed back home until late Thursday.

"The spewing leak still remains low, but all safety precautions will remain in place at this site," he said.