The Nation - News from May 11, 1987

Emergency crews evacuated a small farming community in Utah when natural gas from a well operated by Pennzoil Corp. began leaking into the atmosphere. Authorities evacuated the town of Neola, with an estimated population of 100, and sealed off an area within a three-mile radius. No injuries were reported. The Utah Highway Patrol also blocked traffic into the community, about 100 miles east of Salt Lake City. “It is highly unusual for this to happen to a producing well, as opposed to an exploratory well,” said Pennzoil spokesman Bob Harper in Houston. “There is no fire now, and hopefully there won’t be.” Pennzoil officials said they hoped to have the well capped today.