619562_Group_Berry_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025030913
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
619562_Group_Berry_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/21/2025
Document Description
Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (Berry) proposes to sidetrack 10 existing cyclic steam wells located in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field. The proposed project is estimated to take a total of 103 days once work has begun. The entirety of this project is in an area of existing disturbance and no change in the surface topography (such as drainage patterns) is included in the project design. Downhole activities would include drilling, cleaning the wellbores, setting and cementing casing, and completion of the wells in the target formation. Regular operations at the site include removal of weeds for fire control and road maintenance.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving 10 permits for Berry to sidetrack the wells listed below, in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field.
API # Well Name
0403048509 Southwestern 43-36
0403045525 Southwestern 44-37
0403048516 Southwestern 46-39
0403035204 Southwestern 47-37
0403045526 Southwestern 48-41
0403050164 Southwestern 49-40
0403050166 Southwestern 50-41
0403064899 Southwestern 54-41X
0403064902 Southwestern 56-43
0403041713 Southwestern 51-41
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
Name
Ryan Nelson
Agency Name
Berry Petroleum Company, LLC
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Kern
Regions
Countywide, Statewide
Township
31S
Range
22E
Section
02
Base
MD
Other Location Info
Midway-Sunset 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 existing wells involving no expansion of the existing use of the wells. Class 1 exemption consists of operation, repair, maintenance, or 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 includes “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 consists of drilling, cleaning the wellbores, setting and cementing casing, and completion of the wells in the same formation as the original wellbores. No expansion of the existing well pads, roads, staging areas, or pipelines are proposed. According to a CalGEM engineer, the proposed work is within the scope of UIC project 46400390 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 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[.]” 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.” (14 CCR § 15302.) The project would include drilling, cleaning the wellbores, setting and cementing casing, and completion of the wells in the same formation as the original wellbores. According to a CalGEM engineer, the proposed work is within the scope of UIC project 46400390 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 on the same site and would not change the purpose or capacity of the wells.
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. 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 would be conducted entirely on existing pads with enough space to contain all equipment. The project would include drilling, cleaning the wellbores, setting and cementing casing, and completion of the wells in the same formation as the original wellbores. No expansion of the existing well pads, roads, staging areas, or pipelines are proposed. The proposed project is located within a developed oil field. Therefore, the proposed project would 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
Other
Type, Section or Code
Exceptions to the Exemptions: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15300.2
Reasons for Exemption
CalGEM further finds that there are no exceptions to the application of the categorical exemptions (PRC § 21084; 14 CCR § 15300.2) referenced above. For example, there is no substantial evidence that there are any “unusual circumstances” associated with the proposed project that create a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment, and that there are no significant “cumulative impacts” resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place. Therefore, reliance on the exemptions is appropriate.
A copy of this NOE (as required by 14 CCR § 15062(a)) and all other related materials can be made available to the public by contacting the CalGEM CEQA Program, located at 715 P Street, MS 1803, Sacramento, CA 95814; by calling (916) 445-9686; or an electronic copy of these documents may be requested by contacting CEQA@conservation.ca.gov. The notice filed with the State Clearinghouse may be accessed online at: https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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