Processed clean natural gas, as it is used by consumers, is much different from the raw natural gas that is brought from underground up to the wellhead. Raw natural gas extracted from oil and gas fields is customarily processed to remove harmful chemicals and byproducts. The gas proposed for storage in the Sacramento Natural Gas Storage project is processed dry, clean natural gas, which poses no significant documented health risk.

SNGS will be a safe and simple operation . . .

• Storing natural gas underground is a long-established practice (since World War II), with hundreds of facilities safely operating all over the country.
• Operations will be similar to when the Florin Gas Field was safely supplying gas in the 1980s.
• SNGS will use cutting-edge technology and proven safety procedures and it will be strictly regulated and monitored by the California Public Utilities Commission.
• The natural depository is located far underground, well below the water table and underneath a thick layer of solid caprock.
• Gas will be stored in a layer of permeable, porous sandstone, somewhat like a sponge—since there is no oxygen present in this layer of sandstone—there is no risk of explosion.
• The geology of the dry underground storage field is seismically stable.

The SNGS project conducted a series of comprehensive safety studies to confirm the scientific and geologic integrity and viability of the storage reservoir and to ensure public safety. In addition, the SNGS project is currently undertaking a comprehensive and thorough Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the project. Summaries of the safety studies conducted to date are provided below and can be downloaded in their entirety.

Environmental Assessment – Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) Public Health and Safety Section (prepared by EIP Associates, a Division of PBS&J) – The purpose of the PEA is to provide an adequate level of information to the CPUC to assist in determination of impacts that may be of concern and to facilitate preparation of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document. The analysis conducted for this PEA indicates that no aspect of this project (as proposed with mitigation) would cause a significant and unavoidable impact on the environment.

Safety Record Study (prepared by International Gas Consulting) –The study examined the safety operating history of all the depleted gas field and water aquifer natural gas storage projects throughout the country that were operating during 1976-2006.

Contemporary Safety History of Natural Gas Storage Facilities (prepared by Sierra Energy and Risk Assessment, Inc.) – The incident data reflected a complete absence of casualties and very modest total property damage over a period of nearly four decades during the period 1970 to present.

Gas Migration Opinion (prepared by Ryder Scott Company Petroleum Consultants) An assessment was made to determine the potential for gas migration in the Florin Field.

Gas Migration Review Comments (prepared by John F. Matthews, Jr. Consulting Petroleum Engineer – A technical and professional review of migration issues raised in “GAS MIGRATION, Events Preceding Earthquakes”, and applicable relevance to the Sacramento project was performed to identify comparable seismic, geological and associated mathematical models on forecasting natural disasters.

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) – draft report pending (August 2008)