Crews working to cap Prud'homme gas fire site

It's been six days since a natural gas explosion at Prud'homme, Sask.that led to an ongoing fire at the site, but officials say crews have extinguished the flames.

As of 10 p.m (CST) Friday the fire was out. Crews on site are working to cap the cavern which is blowing out natural gas. Until that cavern is sealed the site won't be secure.

In an update on the situation Friday afternoon, SaskEnergy's Dave Burdeniuk said work was underway to install a new wellhead at the natural gas storage site, which is operated by SaskEnergy's company TransGas.

Burdeniuk explained that a crane at the site has the new wellhead poised to be installed, possibly by early Friday night.

"Just as the wellhead is ready to swing over, we will use high-pressure water to put out the fire, and then attach the wellhead," Burdeniuk said.

With that new equipment in place, gas from the cavern would then flow up and then through an eight-metre long vent pipe.

Burdeniuk added that, if required, there could be an intentional "re-ignition" of gas and people may observe another flame, "but that would be a planned process."

He said the final step in the process will be sealing off the cavern, which will involve closing valves and inserting a plug into the steel casing that connects the surface to the cavern deep underground.

"Once that seal is in place, then this will be over, and the facility will be secure." Burdeniuk said.

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Throughout the week, flames have shot out to a height of up to 78 metres, making it difficult for fire crews to get close.

The fire has been eating up all the gas in the massive TransGas storage cavern, which is used to supply Saskatchewan homes and businesses during the winter months.

However,Burdeniuksaid the impact on overall supplies will be minimal and the Crown gas utility will be able to find replacement supplies.

Prud'homme is about 87 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.