627707_Group_Macpherson_OG_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025030872
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
627707_Group_Macpherson_OG_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/20/2025
Document Description
The project would rework eleven wells by converting one steamflood injection well to waterflood injection, converting two observation wells to waterflood injection, converting five oil and gas production wells to waterflood injection, and perforating three waterflood injection wells in order to address integrity issues and continue resource development. Work involves testing, cementing, and perforating casing. The proposed project is estimated to take an estimated five days per well once work has begun. The project will utilize a workover rig, and various temporary support equipment that include delivery trucks, backhoes, and pickup trucks. The well pad will be able to accommodate all associated equipment and operations, including personnel parking. The rig will then conduct day-light operations until work is completed. The rig operations and equipment will then be demobilized and removed from the site. No production facilities and no new ground surface disturbance will be associated with the reworks.
The grouping initially proposed reworking twelve wells. One of the wells was determined to have integrity issues that required swift action for the protection of public health, safety, and the environment and received expedited review. The work was approved with a prior exemption and the optional NOE was not filed. The scope of this review is the rework of the remaining eleven wells from the initial grouping. The previously reviewed well is listed below:
API # Well Name
0402918033 USL 18 93
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving eleven permit(s) for Macpherson Oil Company to rework the wells listed below, in the Round Mountain Oil Field.
API # Well Name
0402916985 USL 18 2
0403029348 USL 18 315
0403009474 USL 18 420
0403035022 USL 18 635
0403046706 USL 18 TOW 3
0402916988 USL 18 13
0403046167 USL 18 156
0403048462 USL 18 168
0403026957 USL 18 630
0403054366 Caldwell 100
0403030275 USL 18 310
Contact Information
Name
Mikayla Vaba
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Ryan Nelson
Agency Name
Macpherson Oil Company
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Township
28S
Range
29E
Section
18
Base
MD
Other Location Info
Round Mountain Oil Field
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt under the Class 1, Existing Facilities because the project would make minor alterations to existing wells with negligible changes to the existing use of the wells. 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.” This includes “remedial, maintenance, 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.” (14 CCR § 1684.1.) The project involves remedial, maintenance, and conversion work on eleven existing wells in order to address integrity issues and continue resource development. The project includes the conversion of one steamflood injection well to waterflood injection, two observation wells to waterflood injection, and five oil and gas production wells to waterflood injection. Two of the wells would be abandoned in the Vedder production zone and recompleted in the Pyramid Hill zone. The proposed work consists of testing, cementing, and perforating casing. These are negligible changes that would not result in significant impacts to surface or subsurface conditions. A CalGEM engineer has stated that Pyramid Hill and Vedder are commonly produced together, and it is a common development practice in the Round Mountain oil field to plug back a well in one zone to produce in the other. Both zones are existing hydrocarbon zones and are currently producing. The engineer also confirmed that the Pyramid Hill zone is higher than Vedder and produces fewer overall fluids, so the capacity of the wells would not need to be expanded to produce in Pyramid Hill. A CalGEM engineer has confirmed that the proposed work is within the scope of UIC projects 62809014, 62809021, 62809023, and 62809024, and the purpose of the proposed operations is the continuation of operations within the UIC projects as approved by the PALs. The conversions are part of an approved expansion of UIC project 62809023. The State Water Resources Control Board reviewed UIC project 62809023 for groundwater impacts and did not object to the project. The work described in this review is separate from the 2022 addendum to the PAL for 62809021 and the 2021 addendum to the PAL for 62809023, as confirmed by a CalGEM engineer. Therefore, the conversions and zone changes would be a negligible change in use.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt under the Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction exemption because the project would reconstruct the casing and wellbores of eleven existing wells and would not substantially change the purpose or capacity of the wells. 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 project would reconstruct the casing and wellbores of eleven existing wells by testing, cementing, and perforating casing. The work would take place on the existing well pads and wellbores. The project involves the conversion of eight wells and would abandon two wells in the Vedder production zone and recomplete them in the Pyramid Hill zone. A CalGEM engineer has confirmed that the proposed work is a continuation of the approved UIC projects 62809014, 62809021, 62809023, and 62809024. The conversions are part of an approved expansion of UIC project 62809023. Changes in the production zone would not expand well capacity as the Pyramid Hill zone is higher than Vedder and produces fewer overall fluids. Therefore, the proposed work would not substantially change the purpose or capacity of the wells.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt under the Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land because the project involves minimal surface disturbance that could significantly impact the surrounding environment. 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 project would take place on previously disturbed, existing well pads which are large enough to accommodate the necessary equipment and can be accessed by existing roads. The project does not involve the expansion of the existing well pads, flowlines corridor, or powerline corridor. The project is located in a densely developed oil field. Therefore, there would be minimal new disturbance that could significantly impact the surrounding environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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