UGS SoCalGas 052023-001
Summary
SCH Number
2024040130
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
UGS SoCalGas 052023-001
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/3/2024
Document Description
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) submitted one Notice of Intention (NOI) to rework an existing underground gas storage (UGS) well at the Honor Rancho Gas Storage Facility (Honor Rancho Facility) in Los Angeles County (Project).
The well that will be reworked is part of the Honor Rancho Facility, an existing facility of an investor-owned utility that is used to provide natural gas services. The proposed Project is located at the Honor Rancho Facility in Los Angeles County, 30 miles north of the city of Los Angeles, within the Honor Rancho Gas Field. The Honor Rancho Gas Field was discovered in 1956 and a depleted reservoir in the field was converted into a natural gas storage facility in 1975 (now, Honor Rancho Facility). The Honor Rancho Gas Field is approximately 2,300 acres. The Honor Rancho Facility occupies approximately 600 acres of the entire gas field. Approximately 50% of the Honor Rancho Facility is located in the City of Santa Clarita, with the remainder located in unincorporated Los Angeles County.
The purpose of the proposed Project is to rework a well, WEZU C-2A. The rework involves inspecting and remediating conditions impacting well integrity of casing. Activities include review well history, available directional surveys and inspection logs, and current wellbore configuration (casing size, restrictions, perforations, and liner) and develop a plan to complete the integrity of the well. This project includes pulling kill string, running expansion tool, performing pressure test and inspections, and running a completion string to ensure compliance with revised regulations (14 CCR § 1726 et seq.) to enhance the safety of UGS projects.
In 2018, CalGEM promulgated regulations that establish standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of all gas storage wells. The regulations include stringent well construction standards that are required to ensure that gas storage wells are safe and will maintain their integrity over time. The well construction standards promote environmental safety by focusing on leak prevention.
The proposed project consists of CalGEM approving one permit for SoCalGas to preform rework on the gas well listed below, in the Honor Rancho Gas Field.
API # 0403721474, Well Name: WEZU C-2A
Contact Information
Name
Jan Perez
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, CA Geological Energy Management Division
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Township
04N
Range
16W
Section
08
Base
SB B&M
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 CCR § 15301
Reasons for Exemption
Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1): Class 1 exemption applies as CalGEM’s regulations state: “Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously. The Class includes, but is not limited to: remedial, maintenance, conversion, and abandonment work on oil, gas, injection, and geothermal wells. This project includes rework of an existing well, to return to service, and includes pulling kill string, running expansion tool, performing pressure test and inspections, and running completion string. This required well construction upgrade will maintain or diminish the throughput capacity of the reworked gas storage well resulting in negligible or no expansion of the existing use. This rework is considered remedial because it is attendant to compliance with CalGEM’s heightened well construction standards and safety regulations and involves associated maintenance of the well in order to ensure continued operation.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 CCR §§ 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2): Class 4 exemption applies. The proposed Project would be conducted entirely on an existing pad, and when combined with existing roads, has enough space to contain all equipment. The project would not disturb any undisturbed areas. The proposed project is located within an industrial area. Therefore, the proposed project “consists of drilling operations that result in only minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation.” The rework would not expand the facility and is conducted in order to comply with CalGEM safety regulations (remedial) and maintain level of service.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 CCR §§ 15307, 15308
Reasons for Exemption
Classes 7 and 8, Protection of Natural Resources and the Environment (14 CCR §§ 15307, 15308): Class 7 and Class 8 exemptions apply. The exemptions are for actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by law to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of a natural resource or the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for the protection of the environment.” As demonstrated in the record, the rework involves pulling kill string, running expansion tool and performing pressure test and inspections, and finally running completion string to comply with the regulations CalGEM promulgated in 2018, that establish standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of all gas storage wells. The regulations include stringent well construction standards that decrease the risk for adverse impacts to natural resources in the area. CalGEM has statutory and regulatory authority to protect natural resources and the environment. The rework of this well would ensure that potential impacts to natural resources and the environment from compliance issues associated with the well are minimized, and the approval for the rework will also include conditions that protect natural resources and the environment. Therefore, as demonstrated in the proposed Project file description of the well, rework operations would assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and/or protection of a natural resource and the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.