OG SLC 03142024
Summary
SCH Number
2024041117
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
OG SLC 03142024
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/25/2024
Document Description
California State Lands Commission (SLC) submitted nine Notice of Intention (NOI) to plug and abandon wells on offshore Platform Holly in the South Elwood Oil Field located approximately two miles of the coast from Santa Barbara.
Former State Oil and Gas Leases Nos. PRC 421, PRC 3120, and PRC 3242 consist of offshore oil and gas operations that include an oil and gas platform (Platform Holly), onshore oil and gas piers (Ellwood Piers), and 32 oil and gas wells and their associated infrastructure. The California State Lands Commission (SLC) is the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for a project that includes plug and abandonment of 30 oil and gas wells on Platform Holly and 2 wells situated on Ellwood Piers to support the plug and abandonment work. The SLC has filed a Notice of Exemption with the State Clearinghouse (SCH# 2018108286) for the project.
The purpose of the proposed Project is a change (supplemental permits) to nine of the original permits issued to plug and abandon wells on Platform Holly. The supplemental permits are needed to address additional well plug and abandonment work, including milling the casing and upgrading the surface plug to within 15 feet of surface. The offshore wells will be properly abandoned by the SLC, following California Geological Energy Management Division regulations, to reduce the potential for future spills and, or releases to the environment. The work performed under the proposed Project will require minimal temporary equipment, as most of the needed equipment is already in place to service existing wells. Equipment would consist primarily of cement pumping equipment. No new permanent facilities will be or need to be constructed. There would not be any new seafloor disturbance or impact to species or their habitat, associated with the project. All waste materials generated will be properly disposed of in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The project activity would take approximately 90 days to complete.
The proposed project consists of CalGEM approving nine permits for the SLC to plug and abandon the oil well listed below, in the South Elwood Oil Field on Platform Holly.
API# Well Name API# Well Name
0428320060 AMES 3120 7 0428320268 AMES 3120 11
0428320002 AMES 3242 4 0428320275 AMES 3242 17
0428320039 AMES 3242 5 0428320273 AMES 3242 15
0428320071 AMES 3120 8 0428320262 AMES 3242 9
0428320265 AMES 3242 10
Contact Information
Name
Jan Perez
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
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…”. The proposed Project is to plug and abandon nine wells on offshore Platform Holly. The work performed under the proposed Project will require minimal temporary equipment, as most of the needed equipment is already in place to service existing wells. Equipment would consist primarily of cement pumping equipment. No new permanent facilities will be or need to be constructed.
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 the existing offshore Platform Holly with enough space to contain all equipment. The proposed Project would not result in any new seafloor disturbance or impact to species or their habitat. Therefore, the 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.”
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 plug and abandonment of the nine wells would not relax standards allowing environmental degradation, but rather would assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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