new homes on old oil field - safe? (Huntington Beach, Fullerton: home inspectors, living)

[dagold]

Does anyone have any concrete data on the possible health risks of living on land that used to be an oil field? Thanks

[Charles]

Originally Posted by dagold

Does anyone have any concrete data on the possible health risks of living on land that used to be an oil field? Thanks

I wouldn't need concrete data - I'd be fine with jello or quicksand data...

I wouldn't live on land that used to be an oil field.

[David Aguilar]

Go up to Signal Hill and you can find little oil rigs in people's yards.

[HB Dave]

Originally Posted by Charles

I
I wouldn't live on land that used to be an oil field.

Then I guess you wouldn't live in Huntington Beach because that whole city was pretty much oil fields

[bhcompy]

Should be safe, but I'm sure there are home inspectors/specialists that will check the soil for you if you'd please. Could you possibly be looking at Heron Point in Seal Beach?

[dagold]

Thanks. The community is Crescent Heights in Placentia. I understand if there is leakage that leads to contamination, there is a risk, but I haven't found any information on the risk of properly maintained (and now capped) wells.

[mdmagana]

Home built in the mid 90s on an old oil field in Fullerton supposedly required some kind of special ventilation. I would be leery. Get a radon test done at least.

[BRinSM]

check this story out about a Ross up in LA: Ross Store Explosion

[Consider_Again]

Originally Posted by dagold

Does anyone have any concrete data on the possible health risks of living on land that used to be an oil field? Thanks

An abandoned oil well (permanently killed, perforated, cemented and capped) should not leak. A lot of the LA basin was atop a sea of oil at one time. Crude oil and natural gas surfaced under its own pressure in places, and could continue to do so for many years to come.

If I were concerned about a perspective home I would have a natural gas test performed. The gas company and most home inspectors have these testers, not hard to do. You should have a disclosure.

New homes in Huntington Beach are built atop old oil wells and have a ventilation pipe going through the house from the ground to the roof. Natural gas is lighter than air and will rise.

I am not aware of any health risks from long term exposure to natural gas. You release about one pint of flatulence every day which contains a significant percentage of methane, the principal constituent of natural gas.