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PXP/Arguello
Gaviota Oil Heating Facility (foreground)
Gaviota Oil Terminal (background)
What's New
SCADA System Upgrades
Plains
Exploration and Production Company
(PXP) is currently upgrading its
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
(SCADA) system. The system
enables the operator to detect
pipeline leaks in a timely manner. To
date, the onshore pipeline valve
vaults and the gas pig receiver
areas of the Gaviota oil Heating
Facility (GOHF) have been migrated
to the new system. By July
17 and July 28, both Platform Hidalgo
and Platform Harvest were migrated
over to the new SCADA system,
respectively. Platform Hermosa
is scheduled to be completed early
August. During the platform upgrades,
the leak detection system became
inoperable. Automated leak
detection will not be restored
until all of the system has been
migrated and the new Ed Farmer
leak detection hardware and software
is installed.
PXP
estimates that installation of
the new SCADA system upgrades will
be completed the second week of
August. Until then, the operator
is manually monitoring its pipelines
for leaks.
PXP/Arguello
GTC Bypass Project
Construction was completed at the
PXP/Arguello Gaviota Oil Heating Facility
Bypass Project including installation
of new pumps, valves and new segments
of pipe. As a result, the Gaviota
Terminal has permanently ceased operations. The
County has initiated a rezone of the
Gaviota Terminal site to recreational
use. The rezone may lead to the site
being donated as public open space.
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Photo
Simulations of the Gaviota Facility’s
Projected Appearance after the
Bypass Project
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Processing Facility Partial Abandonment
Former
View of the Gaviota Facility |
Current View of the Gaviota Processing
Facility after Equipment Removal |
- This project is being conducted
in three phases. Phase 1 (completed)
has reduced the visual profile of
the facility by taking down the tallest
items of equipment that are most
visible from Highway 101. Phase 2,
currently underway, (approximately
3 years in duration) will remove
all saleable process equipment. During
Phase 3 (approximately 10 months
in duration), the remainder of the
excess process equipment will be
removed from the site. Phase 1 of
the excess equipment removal project
is complete and Phase 2 is currently
underway.
- Several pieces of equipment have
been sold and are awaiting removal
at this time. Work is currently underway
to clean, disconnect, and transport
these items to buyers, as indicated
in the Phase 1 project description.
The Phase 1 tower removal is complete,
and the propane and butane bullets
is complete. Additionally, removal
of the LASP and siren systems on
Hollister Ranch is complete, except
for the removal of one siren which
is scheduled for removal in late
October 2005.
- All required permits for all phases
of the project have been obtained.
- As part of the decommissioning
of the Gaviota Gas Plant, NGL vessels
("bullets") are being removed. These
bullets, weighing approximately
300,000 lbs, are being loaded onto
trucks and taken offsite for future
use. The removal of these bullets
is one of the last equipment
dismantling tasks to be completed as part of the partial
equipment
removal project.
Reconfiguration Extension
Plains - Arguello submitted an application to extend the life of the
Reconfiguration project on May 12, 2003. The original project
was approved in 1998, and at the time Chevron (then the owner/operator)
had stated that the Point Arguello Project would operate in
this mode for a maximum of 5 years, or until 2003. However,
Plains - Arguello, Inc. intends to operate the project until 2015 as
originally stated in the 1984 EIR/EIS, so they have submitted
an application requesting to continue operations in the reconfigured
mode until that time.
- The application was deemed complete on June 11, 2003.
- The Energy Division will process
the application as a Director’s
Amendment to the existing permit
for the Facility (85-DP-032). A
decision on this project is expected
by the end of the calendar year.
- The System Safety and Reliability
Review Committee has reviewed the
project for potential impacts to
Risk of Upset/Hazardous Materials.
Lease 451 E
- Plains - Arguello Inc. is currently
developing Federal Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) Lease 451 E by drilling
up to 8 extended-reach wells from
two of the three existing OCS platforms
in the Point Arguello Unit. Up to
five wells will be drilled from Platform
Hermosa and three from Platform
Hidalgo. The drill
rig is operational
and is currently being used to drill
the first well. The well was drilled
to approximately 19,000 feet, the
production string was put in place
and the well is expected to produce
about 4,331 barrels of oil per day
by the end of October.
- Development of the Lease 451 E oil reserves will not require
any new equipment on the platforms, or at the Gaviota Facility.
All of the wells will be directionally drilled using existing
well slots on the platforms.
- Drilling of the Lease 451 E wells will last approximately
2-3 years with production lasting approximately 8-10 years.
Oil and gas processing will occur offshore at the existing
platforms with the existing equipment. The produced oil will
be dehydrated and stabilized and transported in existing pipelines
to the Gaviota Facility, where it will be heated and shipped
by pipeline to refineries. Oil processing (dehydration and stabilization)
capacity at the Point Arguello platforms is currently limited
to a maximum of about 35,000 barrels per day (bbl/d).
- Gas will be processed [sweetened to remove hydrogen sulfide
(H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2)] and used for fuel in the offshore
turbine generators of all three platforms. A portion of the
gas sweetened on Platform Hermosa will be transported to shore
by pipeline for fuel needs at the Gaviota Facility and to produce
electricity for sale. Excess gas, if any, will be reinjected
offshore.
- Drilling and production are expected to end by 2011-2012,
which will allow for the Lease 451 E reserves to be produced
within the remaining productive life of the Point Plains - Arguello platforms,
which is estimated to be concluded by the year 2015.
Permit Compliance
- The System Safety and Reliability
Review Committee (SSRRC) conducted
a safety audit at Plains - Arguello’s
Gaviota Facility on Tuesday, July
25, 2006 - No priority 1 or 2 deficiencies
were identified, the SSRRC and
the Energy Division will work with
Arguello to ensure that all other
items are addressed according to
the standardized priority timelines
established by the SSRRC.
Description
An ongoing project consisting of three offshore platforms (Hermosa,
Harvest and Hidalgo) that produce and process oil and gas from the
Point Arguello
Offshore field. Pipelines are used to transport oil and gas
produced and processed offshore to onshore terminal facilities.
These facilities use the sales quality gas to generate electricity
and steam for use onsite. Excess electricity can be sold to the
public utility grid. The processed crude oil is pumped into the
All American pipeline.
Location
- The Gaviota Oil and Gas Processing Facility is located on the
mountain side of Highway 101 opposite the Shell Pipeline Company,
LP Gaviota Oil Terminal. It receives oil and gas from the Point
Arguello field west of Point Conception.
Arguello Map |
Overhead View of the Gaviota Oil & Gas Processing Facility
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Offshore Facilities
| Platform
Hermosa
- Lease Location: OCS-P0316 (Point Arguello Unit)
- Year Installed: 1985
- Water Depth: 603 feet
- Deck Weight: 7,830 tons
- Total Weight: 28,131 tons
- Fabricated: Japan
- Number of Wells Slots: 48
- Distance from Land: 6.8
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Platform Harvest
- Lease Location: OCS-P0315 (Point Arguello Unit)
- Year Installed: 1985
- Water Depth: 675 feet
- Deck Weight: 9,024 tons
- Total Weight: 30,190 tons
- Fabricated: Korea
- Number of Wells Slots: 50
- Distance from Land: 6.7 miles
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Platform
Hidalgo
- Lease Location: OCS-P0450 (Point Arguello Unit)
- Year Installed: 1986
- Water Depth: 430 feet
- Deck Weight: 8,100 tons
- Total Weight: 21,421 tons
- Fabricated: Japan
- Number of Wells Slots: 56
- Distance from Land: 5.9 miles
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Pipelines
- 12-inch diameter wet
oil from Platform Harvest to Platform Hermosa (3.2 miles
long)
- 8-inch diameter sour
gas from Platform Harvest to Platform Hermosa (3.2 miles
long)
- 16-inch diameter oil from Platform Hidalgo to Platform
Hermosa (4.8 miles long)
- 10-inch diameter sour gas from Platform Hidalgo to Platform
Hermosa (4.8 miles long)
- 20-inch diameter sour gas from Platform Hermosa to Gaviota
Oil & Gas Processing Facility (10 miles long)
- 24-inch diameter wet oil from Platform Hermosa to Gaviota
Oil & Gas Processing Facility (10 miles long)
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| Photos
provided by the Minerals Management Service |
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Onshore Facilities
Gaviota
Major Systems:
- Oil-water separation; oil surge
and reject tanks (partially idled - used to heat incoming oil
only)
- Treatment and discharge of produced
water (idled)
- Treatment of raw gas (idled), including
- Removal, storage, and shipment of sulfur
- Removal, separation, storage, and shipment of gas liquids
(e.g., propane, butane, heavier liquids)
- Seawater desalination (idled)
- Cogeneration
Design Capacities:
- Dry oil
output - 100,000 barrels per day (bpd)
- Oil Storage - 10,000 bbl (additional storage available at the
Gaviota Oil Terminal)
- Produced
water - 25,000 barrels of water per day (bwpd)
- Natural
Gas - 75 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD)
- Cogenerated
Electricity - 18.5 megawatts
Permitted Capacities:
- Dry oil output - 200,000 bpd
- Oil Storage - 10,000 bbl
- Produced water - 25,0000 bwpd
- Natural Gas - 75 MMCFD
- Cogenerated Electricity - 18.5 megawatts
Offsite Pipelines:
Approximately 16 miles of the oil (Point Arguello Pipeline Company
- PAPCO) and gas (Point Arguello Natural Gas Line - PANGL) pipelines
that transport oil from the offshore platforms parallel the coast
from their landfall near Point Conception to the Gaviota Facility.
Fields Production History
Pt. Arguello Field
Production Began: 1991
Oil Information:
Gas Information:
- Source: Monterey
Formation
- Cumulative production through 2000: 71 billion cubic
feet (BCF)
- Percentage of total POCS gas landed in Santa Barbara County:
10%
- Estimated reserves as of 2000: 85 BCF
Product Distribution
Crude Oil
- Distributed via pipeline, as follows:
- All oil produced is processed offshore on Platforms Harvest
and Hermosa; then
- Sent to shore for heating; then
- Sent to storage tanks at the Gaviota
Oil Terminal; then
- Transported in the Plains
Pipeline to
various destinations
Natural Gas
- Distributed via pipeline
- Product Destination:
- Most of the gas produced is sweetened
offshore on Platforms Harvest and Hidalgo; then
- Sent to shore for use as Cogeneration Turbine fuel. Some
of the produced electricity is used to power the Gaviota Facility,
and the rest is sold to the Public Utility Grid.
Electricity
- Electricity generated in excess of what is needed to power the
Gaviota facility is sold to the local utility grid.
- Each cogeneration turbines is capable of generating up to 3.7
Megawatts (MW) of power, with approximately 10 MW of excess power
available for sale to the local grid.
Past Activities
- The Coastal Development Permit for Phase 1 of the project was issued on November 13, 2003.
- On June 26, 2002, the Planning Commission approved a joint
application by Arguello, Inc. and ChevronTexaco to remove excess
equipment at the Gaviota Processing Facility. The equipment
is no longer necessary because the operator processes the crude
oil and gas offshore.
- Two of the four Point Arguello Unit tracts were leased in 1979
as part of lease sale 48 and the other two were leased in 1981
as part of lease sale 53.
- Arguello, Inc. began construction of the Gaviota Facility and
onshore pipelines in November of 1985 and was completed in December
of 1987.
- As originally designed and operated, the Gaviota Facility received
wet oil
and gas from Platforms Hermosa, Harvest, and Hidalgo.
- The Gaviota Facility was reconfigured in 1998 to streamline
oil and gas processing activities and reduce costs. This reconfiguration
moved all processing functions offshore to Platform Hermosa.
- On February 21, 2001, the Director of Planning and Development
approved a request by Arguello Inc. to bring sweet gas to shore
to fuel electrical cogeneration turbines at its onshore facility
at Gaviota. Under the Gas Disposition Project, the gas is now
sweetened at the platforms and brought to shore in the existing
pipeline system to fuel up to three electrical cogeneration turbines
at the Gaviota facility.
- As designed and originally operated, the Gaviota Facility received
wet oil and gas
from Platforms Hermosa, Harvest, and Hidalgo. Wet oil and gas
was sent from the platforms to the facility in two separate lines.
- As designed, the product streams exiting the Gaviota Facility
included:
- Sulfur
- Sent offsite by truck and sold.
- Produced
Water - Treated and injected into an onshore field or
discharged to the ocean.
- Sweetened Gas - Transported by pipeline and sold the Southern
California Gas Company.
- Liquid Propane
Gas is sent offsite by truck and sold.
- Oil, blended with butane and
natural gas liquids (NGLs)
is pumped to storage tanks at
the Gaviota Oil Terminal prior
to being pumped to market in the Plains Pipeline.
Lease E 451
- The Director of the Planning and Development Department approved the Lease 451 E Development project on September 3, 2003 with a Letter of Authority to Continue Operations under the existing Point Arguello permit. The Director's decision was not appealed. The appeal period for this project ended on Monday, September 15, 2003.
Condition R-1 Review
- On October 16, 2001 the Board of Supervisors denied the appeals
of the Planning Commission's October 30, 2000 decision on the
Point Arguello Project Condition R-1 review process.
- Gaviota served as one of Santa Barbara
County's two designated consolidated
oil and gas processing sites for offshore
production along the South Coast.
- Condition R-1 of the Gaviota facility Final Development Plan
requires that the County hold a public hearing on the operating
status of the Gaviota facility if oil or gas processing throughput
falls below 3% of the maximum permitted throughput. In October
1998 the facility operator ceased sending sour gas to shore for
processing, triggering R-1 review.
- On October 30, 2000 the Planning Commission adopted Energy
Division staff's recommendations on the R-1 review. Staff had
prepared a programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
to evaluate possible future operating scenarios for the Gaviota
facility, including full project abandonment.
- Based on the EIR analysis, staff recommended to the Planning
Commission a scenario that eliminates Gaviota as a consolidated
oil and gas processing facility and requires that the facility
operator abandon all unused portions of the facility. Staff further
recommended that Gaviota remain operational in its current reconfigured
status, whereby all oil and gas is processed offshore. Under this
scenario, Gaviota serves only as an oil heating and metering station,
and produces electricity from produced gas for utility sales from
its cogeneration turbines (see above). Other offshore producers
could gain access to the Gaviota facility for similar operations,
with the appropriate permits.
- Four appeals were filed on the Planning Commission's decision.
The appellants were Arguello Inc., the project owner/operator,
Samedan Oil Corporation, Nuevo Energy Company, and Harvest Oil
and Gas Company. Staff's recommendation was that the Board uphold
the Planning Commission's decision, with one modification. Staff
recommended that the Board endorse a new designation for the Gaviota
site that is a consolidated production area. Staff explained that
this new designation would allow the Harvest/Molino Gas Project
to pursue its existing permit as a legal conforming use and would
provide the County with ongoing control of the Gaviota site through
consolidated policy and zoning controls.
- The Board adopted staff's recommendations and further directed
staff to evaluate the potential risks associated with the treatment
of low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
gas within the proposed production area. This addition by the
Board was in response to Harvest Oil and Gas Company's concern
that its current sweet gas project at the Gaviota site (maximum
4 parts per million H2S) may experience slightly higher concentrations
of H2S than permitted.
- The Board's decision was only an initiation of the proposed
changes to County zoning codes and policies. Staff must now develop
specific zoning and policy language, conduct environmental review,
and present its recommendations to the Planning Commission. All
zoning and policy changes will eventually go before the Board,
and then must be approved by the Coastal Commission.
Reconfiguration Extension
Plains - Arguello submitted an application
to extend the life of the Reconfiguration
project on May 12, 2003. The original
project was approved in 1998, and at
the time Chevron (then the owner/operator)
had stated that the Point Arguello
Project would operate in this mode for
a maximum of 5 years, or until 2003.
However, Plains - Arguello, Inc. intends
to operate the project until 2015 as
originally stated in the 1984 EIR/EIS.
The System Safety and Reliability Review
Committee reviewed the project for potential
impacts to Risk of Upset/Hazardous Materials.
A Director’s Amendment to the existing
permit for the Facility (85-DP-032)
is expected early 2006
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