SMYRNA – The Davis Farm in Smyrna was the scene of a roaring sound and bursts of flame that shot up several stories into the air yesterday morning as Norse Energy Inc. conducted a routine natural gas well flare.
The flickering flame from the end of a long narrow exhaust pipe could be seen far above a corn field and local observers heard an immense roaring sound that echoed. An unidentified caller to The Evening Sun said it was “quite dramatic, quite loud.”
But it’s a scene familiar to those working in the gas well drilling industry, and all part of the regular process that helps control gas pressure and burn off possible air contaminants.
According to Norse Energy spokesman Dennis Holbrook, a flare occurs when a crew strikes a gas reserve for the first time and can last between a few hours or days.
“When we’re out drilling at a site, we try to complete the task in about a two week period, to minimize our presence,” said Holbrook. He said crews usually encounter subterranean gas reserves four to five days after they begin work at a site and then the well will initially flare up.
“So you’re looking at about a 15 day work period where four to five days into that process you’d encounter an initial flare for up to a day or two and then maybe a few smaller flare-ups after that, but nothing like the initial event,” said Holbrook.
Such an event took place Monday at around 10 a.m. at the Davis Farm in Smyrna when crews hit their initial gas pocket. The discovery caused a controlled flare to ignite and drew the attention of area residents.
Norse Energy Vice President of Operations Steven Keyes said flaring is all part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation permitting process. Keyes said a permit for flaring requires the company to contact county emergency officials, local fire departments and neighbors adjacent to the property.
“When we’re out there getting ready to drill, we let everyone know what we’re doing and what to expect. Just in case someone becomes concerned and does contact emergency officials, they’ll be aware of our activities,” he said, adding there was no cause for alarm at yesterday’s flare.
Keyes said the process of burning the gas was cleaner than releasing it into the atmosphere.
Chenango County Emergency Management Director Matt Beckwith said this morning he was aware of the flare and visited the site last night. Crews were not dispensed yesterday, as there was no emergency.
Emergency squads did rush to an alleged fire event at a gas well in the Town of Coventry in early September. A Norse worker was bleeding the pressure off an older, capped well, Beckwith said. Crews were called in by a neighbor who reported a gas well explosion.
“There were no flames, just gas vapors only. It was well under control; nothing dangerous,” said Beckwith, adding that safety crews from Norse Energy were already at the site.
Staff Writer Melissa deCordova contributed to this report.