A Swift Current land owner is claiming an abandoned well site and gas leak, which was supposed to have been fixed, is now in worse shape.
The site, located just outside of Swift Current city limits, across the road from the Pioneer grain elevator, is owned by Johanna Lee. She recently hired a private inspector to check on the leak after Taqa North had crews working to repair it in late May and early June.
Lee says that the repair, which saw an entire drill crew re-drill the well to implement a fix and determine the cause of the leak, is now leaking more than before.
"It's got a substantial methane leak coming out of there," claimed Lee. "It was supposed to be fixed, and then we found out that it was still leaking methane."
Lee has been trying to get the well leak fixed for seven years. Prior to this new, more extensive leak, she says the methane leak was going at a rate of 13,000 parts per million.
"I'm not going to say (how much the new leak is) because I want to see what the Department of Energy says," said Lee. "I had it independently tested, and the amount they claim it to be is far less than what I was told it was."
Lee confirmed that there is now another crew out with a service rig working on the leak once again.
The Ministry of Energy has stated that they are aware that repair efforts are underway, and that any activities taking place at the well site pose no risk to the public.
They further state that Taqa North is the responsible party for the leak.