Abstract: A device for safely ventilating high pressure gas from a gas well that is trapped therein by a pressure seal ball jammed in the well casing head and for retrieving the ball after ventilation is complete comprising a hollow tube adapted for tight attachment into the casing head valve, a shaft suspended therein capable of reciprocal and rotary motion, and means attached to the shaft to pass through the casing head valve and drill into and capture the seal ball and ventilating passages in the tube to allow the ventilating gas to pass off harmlessly.