Gas supply returns to homes after scare
GAS supplies in homes across swathes of Galway and Mayo – including Galway city – are expected to be turned back on a phased basis over the weekend, energy chiefs have said.
Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which oversees the service, had recommended that users cut their supplies after odourless natural gas entered the network through Shell’s Corrib gas refinery in Co. Mayo, presenting a safety risk to 10,000 households and businesses in the region.
Shell E&P Ireland, which began refining and pumping gas from the Corrib field at the end of 2015, said it is the first time the issue has occurred in Co. Mayo.
The odourless gas is now being pumped back to the terminal, but it may be tomorrow before families and householders are told it is safe to reconnect, the energy firm told customers via text message yesterday.
The alert was issued across various parts of Co. Galway and Co. Mayo on Thursday evening after unprocessed gas amounting to 20% of a day’s supply got into the network from Shell’s Belanaboy terminal.
Fears were raised that customers may not have detected a leak because it lacked the sulphurous smell added during the refinery process.
The areas affected are Galway city, Oranmore, Tuam, Headford, Ballinrobe, Claremorris, Castlebar, Westport, Crossmolina and Ballina in Co. Mayo. Meanwhile, supplies in Loughrea, Ballinalsoe and Gort are safe to be switched on, GNI confirmed.
It is thought the supply would not have been pumped farther south than Galway city or east of Athenry before the alarm was raised in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Other gas supplies have been pumped into the network from the rest of the country to allow for the steady return of the odourless gas to Bellanaboy.
The terminal had been shut down for a number of days in the week before the technical issue involving the odour additive.
Shell said production was down to allow for routine maintenance at the refinery.
People living around the refinery in north Co. Mayo are being updated on the progress of the operation with flaring, or burn-off, of the odourless gas visible for about 20 miles.
Inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are on site at the refinery while the flaring takes place. The agency also warned of increased noise levels from the terminal.
A spokesman for Shell E&P Ireland insisted the refinery was operating safely.
‘Work is ongoing to remove a quantity of un-odourised gas, which entered the GNI network,’ he said.
‘Flaring is expected to continue today at the Bellanaboy Bridge Gas Terminal to remove the gas in a safe and controlled manner. Our best estimate is that this may take between 48 and 72 hours.’
GNI said it is working with priority customers such as hospitals to keep their supplies on.
‘We are working with the Corrib operator to resolve this issue and remove the un-odourised gas from the network in a safe and controlled fashion,’ the agency said.