ML20205B318

Responds to Re Potential Hazard Associated W/Gas Well Drilling in Area Around Plant.Gas Wells in Area Do Not Represent Undue Threat to Safe Operation

ML20205B318
Person / Time
Site:	Perry
Issue date:	09/09/1985
From:	Stefano J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Hiatt S OHIO CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE ENERGY
Shared Package
ML20205B324	List: ML20205B318 ML20205B327
References
NUDOCS 8509120042
Download: ML20205B318 (1)

Text

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'. '. SEP 0 91985 Docket Nos.: 50-440 and 50-441 Ms. Susan L. Hiatt OCRE Representative 4

8275 Munson Road Mentor, Ohio 44060

Dear Ms. Hiatt:

This is a reply to your letter of July 15, 1985 regarding the potential hazard associated with gas well drilling in the area around the Perry Nuclear Power

~ Plant (Perry).

As mentioned in your letter, the applicant did address the gas pipelines (in the FSAR) which are located closer to the plant than the gas wells, and the staff agreed that these pipelines did not present a problem to the plant. However, i the applicant, in their analysis, did not address the possibility of gas mi- '

1 grating from the wells near the site. Consequently, the staff has postulated

. an accidental release of natural gas from a nearby well and has the following comments.

Methane cannot be detonated in the unconfined state by commonly occurring ignition sources such as electric sparks or flames. However, if the gas is con-fined, as inside a building or an underground cavity, then an explosion may occur from ordinary ignition sources. Ignition and explosion is only possible if the gas is mixed with air such that the mixture contains 5.0% to 14% by volume of methane. Hence, for a methane hazard to exist, it is necessary to postulate the collection of a sufficient quantity of methane-air mixture within these limits and in a confined space near the plant.

The NRC staff has postulated underground gas migration toward the plant with

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subsequent accumulation of the gas in a confined state near the plant. The peak reflected blast pressures, due to postulated detonations were estimated with respect to safety related structures at the site. The staff has not found any.above ground or underground features or formations which could collect sufficient gas such that a detonation would be significant enough to exceed the design capabilities of these structures. Therefore, the gas wells in the area do not represent an undue threat to the safe operation of the Perry plant.

i I trust that this reply is responsive and will allay your concern about the pos-sibility of gas escaping from gas wells in the vicinity of the Perry plant site.

Sincerely, 8509120042 050909 ADOCK O O

(

hDR John J. Refano, Project Manager Licensing Branch No. I f Division of Licensing See next page p f 1:DL LB#d OELD L ano/mac

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