Homes Near Abandoned Oil Well in Newport Beach May Be Torn Down After Methane Leak

A gas leak from a long-abandoned oil well under a Newport Beach neighborhood has sparked a city emergency and put nearby homes at risk of being torn down. The well — drilled in 1924 and capped in 1929 — began leaking thick oil and presumably methane, forcing residents to evacuate in October when seepage was first detected inside a home.

Emergency crews have installed a 110-foot-tall rig and started a round-the-clock operation to dig 1,000 feet down, extract oil, and cap the well with special cement. The city says the repairs could take about nine more days, ideally finishing before Christmas.

Two houses directly over or near the well have already been red-tagged — meaning they could be demolished if structural or environmental damage is confirmed. Homeowners are now weighing their options.

Neighbors say the disruption has been disruptive and nerve-wracking: alarms beeping in the night and the looming fear that their homes — and community — could be lost.

City officials warn the danger isn’t confined to the immediate properties. They say the leak could spread oil or gas into streets, waterways, or other homes — a risk they’re racing to contain before further damage occurs.

As crews push to finish emergency repairs, homeowners and environmental officials are left waiting — hoping the century-old well can be safely shut down before it causes even more destruction.