638055_Group_CRPC_OG_UIC

2025020923

California Department of Conservation (DOC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

2/25/2025

2/25/2025

Mikayla Vaba

Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division

Environmental Planner

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street, MS 1900
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 445-9686

CEQA@conservation.ca.gov

Andrew Cochrane

California Resources Production Corporation

Agent

Project Applicant

9600 Ming Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93311

(661) 412-5000

ogr@crc.com

35°35'57.5"N 118°57'57.5"W

27S

28E

09

MD

Mount Poso Oil Field

Categorical Exemption

Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1)

The proposed project is exempt under the Class 1, Existing facilities exemption because it would make minor alterations to existing wells with negligible change in use. 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.” (14 CCR § 1684.1.) The project would sidetrack eight oil and gas production wells. The proposed work includes cleaning out the wells, placing cement plugs, perforating, removing and installing new casing, installing a new conductor, directional drilling, and cementing casing. The sidetracks involve completion of the wells into a new production zone; however, this is a negligible change because, as stated by a CalGEM engineer, Pyramid Hill and Vedder are commonly produced together, and both are existing hydrocarbon zones that are currently producing. One well would be deepened to the Walker formation before recompleting in Vedder, however this is temporary deepening and is for information gathering purposes. A CalGEM engineer has confirmed that this work is within the scope of work in UIC projects 48815017 and 48815061 as permitted by the PALs. The State Water Resources Control Board review of these UIC projects indicates that the approved work would not have significant impacts on groundwater. Therefore, the project would have negligible subsurface impacts. The wells would remain production wells with substantially the same production capacity. These are negligible changes to the existing wells in order to continue resource development.

Categorical Exemption

Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)

The proposed project is exempt under the Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction exemption because it would reconstruct the casing of existing wells with negligible changes to use. Class 2 consists of the “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[.]” (14 CCR § 15302.) The proposed work includes cleaning out the wells, placing cement plugs, perforating, removing and installing new casing, installing a new conductor, directional drilling, and cementing casing. This is a reconstruction of the casing on existing wells that would make negligible changes in order to restore functionality and continue resource development. The sidetracks would take place on existing well pads which are large enough to accommodate the necessary equipment and can be accessed by existing roads. The project will use existing facilities, including pipelines, electrical lines, and roads. The wells would remain oil and gas production wells with substantially the same production capacity.

Categorical Exemption

Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)

The proposed project is exempt under the Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land exemption because the project involves minimal new ground surface disturbance. Class 4 consists of “drilling operations that result only in minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation.” (14 CCR § 1684.2; see also 14 CCR § 15304.) The proposed project does not involve any surface disturbance activities that would significantly impact the surrounding environment. The sidetracks would take place on existing well pads which are large enough to accommodate the necessary equipment and can be accessed by existing roads. The wells are located in a densely developed oil field. The project will use existing facilities, including pipelines, electrical lines, and roads. The project does not involve the construction of new facilities or the expansion of existing facilities.