How can tunneling be done safely through an area where there are oil fields and wells, many of which have been abandoned and some of which are still active?
Greater Los Angeles is an oil producing area and there is significant local experience building here. During the Draft EIS/EIR, known oil fields and documented active or abandoned oil wells have been identified from oil well maps. This initial analysis indicated that the oil fields are much deeper than the potential subway tunnels. Shafts for active and abandoned oil wells are also located in the vicinity of project alignments along with other utilities such as sewer, water, gas and electric lines. These will be further mapped during Final EIS/EIR and Preliminary Engineering phases and relocated, if necessary, during the construction phase of the project. If any unmapped or unknown wells are encountered during construction, there are established procedures, regulated by government agencies, for dealing with them safely. Metro recently tunneled successfully through the former Boyle Heights oil field while constructing the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension.
