Wheatley Updates

Building excavation is taking place at 19 and 15 Erie St. N and 9 Talbot Trail West. Excavations will follow at APEC 1 and 2 to identify any sub-surface infrastructure that could be acting as a lateral pathway and to confirm if another source of gas is present.

All work performed on-site follows a comprehensive health and safety plan that was developed by expert engineering consultants. The safety of public, staff and contractors remains the number one priority for site.

Image of work currently being done in Wheatley

Over this past weekend, 16 homeowners were able to obtain temporary access to properties in the evacuation zone. Efforts continue to provide access for the remaining property owners and tenants.

Hydro poles and lines have now been removed near the site of the explosion to clear the way for the demolition work to begin. The demolition contractor is currently on-site and is mobilizing equipment for the next stage of the process.

To ensure the safety of everyone involved, temporary home access has been suspended while this work is in-process. If there are any downtimes that occur, temporary home access appointments will restart immediately.

As previously reported, the goal for the next phase of the investigation is to confirm the presence of a lateral pathway between APEC 1 and 2 and to verify there are no any other sources of gas in the area.

Building excavation is taking place at 19 and 15 Erie St. N and 9 Talbot Trail West. Excavations will follow at APEC 1 and 2 to identify any sub-surface infrastructure that could be acting as a lateral pathway and to confirm if another source of gas is present.

All work performed on-site follows a comprehensive health and safety plan that was developed by expert engineering consultants. The safety of public, staff and contractors remains the number one priority for site.

As previously reported, three Areas of Potential Environmental Concern (APEC) have been identified. APEC 1 is the area near the Pogue and Wheatley hotel. APEC 2 is the reported location of the abandoned Tait Well (Well 000981), which was located using ground penetrating radar and electromagnetic geophysical surveying. APEC 3 is a vent on the north-west corner of the municipal parking lot near Elm Street.

Analysis of the gas samples taken from APEC 1 and APEC 2 indicates the gas source closely matches gas from a producing natural gas well in the region.

To date, H2S (hydrogen sulphide) has been detected near APEC 1 during gas leak events and was accompanied by flowing water. It was also detected in extremely low concentrations near APEC 2 immediately following the latest gas leak event on Nov. 21/21. The source of H2S may be related to an unidentified gas source (thermogenic) from depth. It is also possible that the H2S is biogenic in nature and is generated from stagnant water close to surface mixing with gas that is migrating along a subsurface pathway.

The goal for the next phase of the investigation is to confirm if a lateral pathway exists between APEC 1 and 2 and to confirm whether there are any other sources of gas.

The removal of hydro lines and poles is occurring on Monday next week. Building excavation will follow at 15 and 19 Erie St. N and 9 Talbot Trail West.

The technical consultants are currently actively working with sub-contractors, the municipality and the province to develop detailed work plans and health and safety plans to ensure these activities are undertaken safely.

As of today, December 2nd, approximately 30 out of 76 (40%) authorized residential and business properties in the evacuation zone have been accessed by owners and tenants.

Entegrus will be in the area next week removing power lines before the demolition work begins. Efforts continue in the development of a safety plan for the investigation. Demolition work will only commence when all safety protocols have been completely satisfied.

Residents will see heavy equipment beginning to move into the area later next week as the companies retained for this work prepare for the next steps in the investigation.

The gas leak last week delayed re-entry appointments for residents, however, the process is set to continue today, December 1st. As of today, approximately twenty-five percent of the properties have been accessed.

For the exploration into the source of the gas to continue, ongoing work Is required, which includes removal of some power lines and some demolition work in the vicinity of where gas was detected. Property owners of all immediately affected properties are being advised of the demolition plans and the impact on their property.

Entegrus will be in the area this week removing power lines in the parking lot inside the evacuation zone prior to the demolition work. Residents will see heavy equipment beginning to move into the area later this week or early next week as the companies retained for this work prepare for the next steps in the investigation.

On Sunday, November 21, another gas release event occurred at the centre of the evacuation zone in Wheatley. The gas release was at the same location as witnessed on four previous occasions and lasted approximately 8 hours. Yesterday low levels of H2S returned to the same area for a short period of time. Due to this recent development, appointments for people to temporarily enter their properties today have been postponed until it can be confirmed that the zone is safe for re-entry.

Firefighters remain on the scene providing around-the-clock service to ensure the safety of the community.

The data captured yesterday and on Sunday will be used to assist in the continued investigation. Once the technical experts have thoroughly reviewed the data, a determination will be made if adjustments are required to the work plan and temporary homeowner re-entry process.

As of today, ten homeowners have re-entered their property. A case manager is on-site to provide assistance to residents.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is working with residents, business owners and their insurers to coordinate plans to access properties in the evacuation zone. Over 40 calls have been completed to set up appointments for access to properties. Six entries are planned for tomorrow with another six planned for Thursday.

“The first visit includes staff from Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services and Building Development Services, who will enter the property in safety gear to monitor and determine if the property is safe to enter. If the property is deemed safe, the owners will be able to enter,” says General Manager of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Thomas Kelly.

Work continues in the area where the explosion occurred. Structural engineers are assessing the damage to adjacent buildings. Work continues on identifying the pathway mapping for the methane and hydrogen sulphide gas.

Three stationary gas monitors are being installed in the area to enhance public safety. Entegrus staff will be on-site to supply electricity to these units.

A crowd of about 150 residents attended a two-and-a-half-hour meeting at the Talbot Trail Golf Club Wednesday evening for an update on the investigation into the recurring gas leak which forced the evacuation of a two-block area in late August.

The meeting was hosted by the Active Citizens of Wheatley.

Mayor Darrin Canniff, West Kent Councillors Melissa Harrigan and Mark Authier attended the session as well as several key municipal staff.

Jennifer Barton, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry also attended in person.

Barton said the investigation continues but the focus is on three “areas of interest” in the immediate vicinity of the August 26 explosion at 15 Erie Street North. She said public safety remains the paramount consideration. She commended local officials for their cooperation and expressed admiration for the resilience of the Wheatley community.

Mayor Canniff said the face-to-face session was invaluable. “It was important to be able to hear from residents. Our focus continues to be safety, completing the investigation and mitigation so we have the answers and solutions we need, getting people back to their homes and businesses, and ensuring that no one is left behind. We know this situation places a physical, financial and emotional toll on people.”

Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire said residents’ concerns about communicating more technical information, security of the evacuation zone, and temporary accessibility to homes and businesses to get records and personal items were all expressed.

“We learned a lot and there were a number of excellent suggestions that we are taking back to the team,” he said. “I’m grateful that we were invited. We appreciate the efforts of the community to work with us. Supporting our business owners and residents who have been evacuated remains a top priority.”

Lauren Anderson, Chair of the Active Citizens group, said the meeting was beneficial.

“I think the community meeting went as well as possible. I definitely saw a shift in how people entered the meeting and how they left the meeting, A little lighter. Seeing everyone together supporting each other in person was very important and necessary for our community,” she said.

Thomas Kelly's Presentation - available soon

Chatham-Kent officials will provide residents with an update into the investigation of the Wheatley gas situation and an opportunity to ask questions during an in-person session at the Talbot Trail Golf Club Wednesday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting is being hosted by the Active Citizens Of Wheatley. Mayor Darrin Canniff, West Kent Councillors Melissa Harrigan and Mark Authier and Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire will attend the meeting.

Additional Chatham-Kent officials will participate electronically.

Active Citizens’ Chair Lauren Anderson will moderate the session. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions of municipal officials.

The session will be also available through the Chatham-Kent Facebook page and residents will be able to ask questions through that platform as well.

Seating at the in-person event will be limited to 150 people inside; a sound system will be set up outside to accommodate an additional 80 people. Proof of vaccination will be required for entry and social distancing will be observed.

Attendance for the in-person session will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority seating reserved for residents and businesses from the evacuation zone.

Media is welcome to attend; however, questions from the media will only be taken during a media session to be held immediately following the event.

The golf club is located at 790 Talbot Trail, just east of Wheatley.