When the device was detonated, it crushed the original pipe that was carrying the gas from the deep reservoir to the surface and vitrified the surrounding rock. This caused the leak and fire at the surface to cease within approximately one minute of the explosion, and proved to be a permanent solution.
When the device was detonated, it crushed the original pipe transporting gas from a deep reservoir to the surface and turned the surrounding rock into glass. This halted the leak and fire at the surface within about one minute of the explosion, providing a permanent fix.