623822_Group_SPR_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025010262
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
623822_Group_SPR_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/9/2025
Document Description
Project Description: SPR proposes to rework 23 existing wells located in the Cymric Oilfield. The wells will be completed in the same reservoir as the original wellbore. The completion design will be the same as the original wellbore. The project will include:
Plugging back an existing perforation interval with cement and add additional perforations to existing perforated interval. Work will require the following equipment:
(1) Rig to pull/run tubing and lay the cement plug; (2) Bulk Truck and (3) Pump to plug back the existing wellbore; and (4) Wireline Truck to add perforations. Deliveries are limited to water. All travel to/from the project location will occur on established roadways and no expansion is required. The speed limit while on SPR property is 15 mph. Dust is controlled via water trucks pursuant to SPR’s Dust Control Plan.
The project is estimated to take 2 days to complete with 10-hour per day operations from 6:00AM-5:00PM. The work will be completed in the Summer/Fall/Winter. The existing well pad can accommodate all associated equipment, materials storage, and operations including deliveries and personnel parking. Any undisturbed vegetation will be avoided, and all work will occur on the existing disturbed pad only. No expansion of the existing well pad, road, staging areas or pipelines is required. Freshwater requirements are less than 50 barrels per well to mix the cement used for plugging
back the existing perforation interval. Water will be supplied by the West Kern Water District from a local meter on the lease. No new pumps, facilities, or flowlines will be installed. Storage, transmission, and processing will be handled utilizing existing infrastructure. Electricity will be supplied from existing systems. No expansion of the existing facilities is required.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving 23 permits for SPR to rework the wells listed below, in the Cymric Oil Field.
API # Well Name
0403069322 Gamble 1 I-11R
0403069314 Gamble 1 I-19R
0403069321 Gamble 1 I-20R2
0403069323 Gamble 1 I-22R
0403069317 Gamble 1 I-23R
0403069318 Gamble 1 I-24R
0403069320 Gamble 1 I-25
0403069310 Gamble 1 I-27
0403069319 Gamble 1 I-28
0403069326 Gamble 1 I-30
0403069336 Gamble 1 I-31
0403069312 Gamble 1 I-32
0403069313 Gamble 1 I-5R
0403069327 Gamble 1 I-6R
0403069315 Gamble 1 I-7R
0403069324 Gamble 1 I-9R
0403068372 Welport I-45
0403069346 Welport I-46
0403068373 Welport I-47
0403069361 Welport I-48
0403069239 Welport I-50
0403069155 Welport I-52
0403069156 Welport I-53
Contact Information
Name
Mila Galevski
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
Staff Service Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Kern
Regions
Northern California
Township
30S
Range
22E
Section
06
Other Location Info
Cymric field
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CCR Title 14, section 15301, 1684.1
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt under the Class 1, Existing Facilities exemption because the project would make minor changes to existing wells involving no expansion of the existing use of the wells. 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 plugging back an existing perforation interval with cement and adding additional perforations to the existing perforated interval. The proposed work confirms there is no expansion required Department of Conservation Notice of Exemption and that travel to and from the existing well pads can accommodate all associated equipment. The completion design will be the same as the original wellbores, and according to a CalGEM engineer, the proposed work is within the scope of UIC project 19024124 and would be a continuation of operations within the confines of the UIC project as permitted by the Project Approval Letter (PAL). Additionally, any undisturbed vegetation will be avoided, supporting current topographical features involving negligible or no expansion. 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
CCR Title 14, section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 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, “Replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.” The completion design will be the same as the original wellbores, and according to a CalGEM engineer, the proposed work is within the scope of UIC projects 19024122, 19024128 and would be a continuation of operations within the confines of the UIC project as permitted by the PAL. The proposed operations are to plug back the lower portion, add new perforations, then return the well back to injection and production. Therefore, the proposed project location would be at the same site and would not change the purpose or capacity of the wells.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CCR Title 14, section 15304, 1684.2
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 exemption applies. The proposed project would be conducted entirely on existing pads with enough space to contain all equipment. The completion design will be the same as the original wellbores and the work will require equipment that can be supported by the existing well pads. The project will include plugging back an existing perforation interval with cement and adding additional perforations to the existing perforated interval, which would not disturb any undisturbed areas. No expansion of the existing well pads, road, staging areas or pipelines is required. The proposed project is located within an industrial area. The completion design will be the same as the original wellbores and according to a CalGEM engineer, the operations have no modifying effect on UIC project 19024124. 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
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