649391_Group_Macpherson_OG_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025040694
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
649391_Group_Macpherson_OG_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/14/2025
Document Description
The proposed project consists of reworking three existing wells to continue resource development. One well would be converted from oil and gas production to waterflood injection, one well would be converted from steamflood injection to observation, and one well would be converted from temperature observation to pressure observation. The proposed work includes laying cement plugs, drilling out cement, pressure testing casing, and perforating casing. The proposed project is estimated to take 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 proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving three permits for Macpherson Oil Company to rework the wells listed below, in the Round Mountain Oil Field.
API # Well Name
0403027699 USL 18 530
0403040457 USL 18 337
0402918014 USL 18 56-X
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
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 three existing wells in order to continue resource development. The proposed work includes laying cement plugs, drilling out cement, pressure testing casing, and perforating casing. All perforations will be made within the Pyramid Hill zone. These are negligible changes that would not result in significant impacts to surface or subsurface conditions. USL 18 530 would become an injection well part of UIC project 62809023 and is part of the AOR for UIC project 62809021. The conversion of USL 18 530 to injection is 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 UIC project expansion. Any subsurface impacts due to this conversion would therefore be negligible. USL 18 337 is an injection well part of UIC project 62809023 and would become part of the AOR for UIC projects 62809023 and 62809021. USL 18 337 would be converted from steamflood injection to observation. This conversion would remove the injection capacity of the well and therefore would have negligible subsurface impacts. USL 18 56-X would remain an observation well and is not part of any UIC project. USL 18 56-X passes through the following UIC projects: 62809014, 62809021, 62809023, and 62809024. Conversion from temperature observation to pressure observation requires perforations. The well would obtain pressure data within the Pyramid Hill formation to ensure compliance as a condition of the PAL for UIC project 62809023. The well would not be used for injection. Therefore, this conversion would have negligible subsurface impacts. 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 work is the continuation of operations as permitted by the project approval letters (PALs).
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)
Reasons for Exemption
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 project would reconstruct the casings and wellbores of three existing wells by laying cement plugs, drilling out cement, pressure testing casing, and perforating casing. The work would take place on existing wellbores and well pads. The work involves the following conversions: conversion of USL 18 530 from oil and gas production to steamflood injection, conversion of USL 18 337 from steamflood injection to observation, and conversion of USL 18 56-X from temperature observation to pressure observation. These are negligible changes as they would not expand or modify the associated UIC projects and would have negligible surface and subsurface impacts.
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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