513144_Aera_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025010139
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
513144_Aera_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/6/2025
Document Description
Aera proposes to rework one existing well located in the Coalinga Oil Field. The proposed rework consists of correcting the injection profile by adding casing patches and new perforations to the well. The well in this project is situated on an existing well pad. Along with the auxiliary equipment, the temporary service equipment used to accomplish the proposed activities will consist of a double rig (workover/service), cementing equipment, coil tubing unit, and wireline.
No new permanent facilities will be constructed to accomplish the proposed activities, all of which will be done to existing facilities previously permitted through CalGEM. There will be no expansion to the existing facilities to accomplish the proposed activities. There will be no new ground disturbance.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving one permit for Aera to rework the well listed below, in the Coalinga Oil Field.
API # Well Name
0401924130 Penn-Zier 4-HR
Contact Information
Name
Nicole Trezza
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
CEQA Program Contractor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Countywide
Township
20S
Range
14E
Section
01
Base
MD
Other Location Info
Coalinga Oil Field
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt under the Class 1, Existing Facilities exemption because the project would make minor changes to an existing well involving no expansion of the existing use of the well. Class 1 consists of the “minor alteration” of existing facilities “involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.” (14 CCR § 15301.) This includes “alteration of well casing, such as perforating and casing repair.” Additionally, in accordance with 14 CCR § 1684.1 the Class 1 exemption consists of operation, repair, maintenance, minor alternation of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously. This Class includes but is not limited to conversion, and abandonment work on oil, gas, injection, and geothermal wells involving the alteration of well casing, such as perforating and casing repair, removal, or replacement; installation or removal of downhole production or injection equipment, cement plugs, bridge plugs, and packers set to isolate production or injection intervals. The project will include correcting the injection profile by adding casing patches and new perforations to the well. No expansion of the existing well pad, roads, staging areas, or pipelines are proposed, and the completion design will be the same as the original wellbore. According to a CalGEM engineer, the proposed work is within the scope of UIC project 15000034 and would be a continuation of operations within the confines of the UIC project as permitted by the Project Approval Letter (PAL). Therefore, the changes to the existing facilities would be negligible and would not expand the existing use.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 exemption applies because it consists of “replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced[.]” Examples of Class 2 include, but are not limited to, “[r]eplacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.” The project will include correcting the injection profile by adding casing patches and new perforations to the well, and the completion design will be the same as the original wellbore. According to a CalGEM engineer, the proposed work is within the scope of UIC project 15000034 and would be a continuation of operations within the confines of the UIC project as permitted by the PAL. Therefore, the proposed project consists of replacement or reconstruction and would not change the purpose or capacity of the well.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 exemption applies. The proposed project would be conducted entirely on an existing pad with enough space to contain all equipment. The project will include correcting the injection profile by adding casing patches and new perforations to the well, and the completion design will be the same as the original wellbore. According to a CalGEM engineer, the proposed work is within the scope of UIC project 15000034 and would be a continuation of operations within the confines of the UIC project as permitted by the PAL. No expansion of the existing well pad, roads, staging areas, or pipelines are proposed. 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.”
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) 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. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.