Petroleum well in Wheatley

By Greg Coulter

with files from Chatham-Kent

With crews working seven days a week at the Wheatley explosion site, the mystery deepened Sunday, September 22 with the discovery of a wooden well casing at 17 Talbot Street East. 

“The project team has found what they believe is a wooden-cased petroleum well on the site of 17 Talbot Street East underneath the cement floor,” said a notice sent out to residents from Chatham-Kent on Sunday.

No hydrogen sulfide gas has been detected but small amounts (300ppm) of methane can be detected.

The team is assessing next steps and will be following the operational plan. The venting hood will be placed over the well when practical as an extra precaution.

At this time there is no risk to the community from this finding. The immediate next step will be to install a conductor pipe over the well and bring it back to surface. Once further details are known, they will be communicated.

Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services and Chatham-Kent EMS remain on-site at all times to ensure the safety of the site and the surrounding community.

Up until Sunday’s discovery, the final phase of the investigation was nearing its completion, with a report of no active gas wells being detected as workers moved eastward on Talbot Street. An earlier discovery of a brick enclosure under 15 Talbot Street East was ruled out as a possible well.

Updates continue to be posted on the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent, Wheatley Updates webpage, located at letstalkchatham-kent.ca/wheatley-updates. 

Residents are encouraged to check back often as information on progress and future schedules will be posted there.

A public meeting Tuesday, September 24 was held after the paper’s press time.