SoCalGas Pipeline

This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

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SoCalGas Pipeline is an operating pipeline in the United States.

Location

This pipeline runs throughout Central and Southern California.

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Project details

• Operator: SoCalGas
• Owner: SoCalGas
• Parent company: Sempra
• Capacity: 3725 MMcf/d
• Length: 3,640 mi
• Diameter: 36 in
• Status: Operating
• Start year: 1941
• Cost:
• Financing:
• Associated infrastructure:

Background

The Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), a subsidiary of Sempra operates the SoCalGas pipeline which runs from Visalia in Tulare County all the way down to the Mexican border. The genesis of the company began in 1867 as the Los Angeles Gas Company which installed gas lamps. In 1890, it was bought by Pacific Lightning later becoming SoCalGas. The demise of gas lamps led SoCalGas to seek other opportunities and in the 1940s, they began building pipelines amidst the discovery of natural gas and the growing demand for fuel. Today, the pipeline serves 19.5 million people.

Accidents

In October 23, 2015, there was a gas leak from the Aliso Canyon gas storage causing 10,000 families of Porter Ranch, Chatsworth, Northridge and Granada Hills to evacuate. In an on-going UCLA study it is reported that the leak released 100,000 metric tons of methane, which according to the Environmental Defense Fund is the same as GHG emissions from 7 million cars or 9 coal fired plants. It is the largest uncontrolled release of methane from an underground gas storage facility in the US and the "worst environmental disaster since the Deep Horizon oil spill". It took 4 months for the leak to be sealed. SoCalGas agreed to a $71 million settlement in 2023. Residents thought the settlement would close the plant however, the California Public Utilities Commission voted to expand the plant.