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Venoco
– State Lease 421 Recommissioning
Venoco SL 421 caisson wall repair project completed
on Pier 1, Dec. 2004
What's New
Recommissioning
- In May, 2004, Venoco, Inc. submitted
an application to bring the two coastal
zone oil production wells within State
Lease 421 back into production. The
wells are located on piers to the south
of the Sandpiper Golf Course in the
City of Goleta.
- California
State Lands Commission has released
the project Draft EIR and
is available on the CSLC website.
- The issue of Venoco’s “vested
rights” to resume oil production
at the State Lease 421 piers continues
to be investigated while the EIR is
prepared.
State Lease 421-1 Repair
- Venoco, Inc. has applied to the City
of Goleta for a Final Development Plan
permit (05-132-DP) to validate emergency
repair work performed on Pier 1 of
State Lease 421. Since 1972, Pier 1
was used as a wastewater and natural
gas injection well in support of coastal
zone oil production for Pier 2. Repair
work was conducted on the ocean face
of the caisson structure in the fall
of 2004 after a large section of the
outer caisson wall sheared off and
fell into the surf zone earlier that
year following a series of severe winter
storms.
- The City of Goleta will hold
a public hearing August 14, 2006,
to consider the Draft Mitigated Negative
Declaration prepared during the
environmental review process of the
application.
- The
City of Goleta will
hold a public hearing in the fall
of 2006 to consider the Final Development
Plan permit application and Mitigated
Negative Declaration prepared during
the environmental review process
of the application.
Description
Venoco Inc. owns two idled coastal zone
wells at State Lease 421 (SL 421), located
on two adjacent piers. Pier 421-1 supports
an idled water and gas injection well,
and Pier 421-2 supports an idled oil
production well. Venoco has applied to
install new production equipment and
reactivate the oil well on Pier 421-2,
as well as reactivate the former injection
well on Pier 421-1 for disposal of wastewater
and natural gas.
Location
The piers are located immediately south
of Sandpiper Golf Course and extend several
meters offshore. An existing unpaved
road runs from the Ellwood Onshore Facility
(EOF) through the golf course, providing
access to the piers.
Arial view of SL
421 and surrounding land use
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Cleanup Activities
SL 421-1 Repair Project: September-
December 2004
- SL 421-1 caisson wall repaired with
new concrete face following winter
storm damage in January 2004.
- Repairs to access road leading from
Venoco EOF completed.
- Debris on beach from fallen wall
face removed.
Past Activities
- Oil and gas processing activity commenced
at SL 421 in the 1930s and ceased in
1994.The coastal wells have
not been in operation since (except
for depressurization activities to
relieve wellhead pressure).
- Both wells were historically used
for oil production; however, in 1972
pier 1 was converted for the storage
and disposal of wastewater and natural
gas produced from pier 2.
- The wells have been idle since 1994
when a pipeline leading from the lease
leaked, resulting in an oil spill of
approximately 170 barrels (bbls) onto
the Sandpiper Golf Course (SPGC) near
the coastal bluff. The pipeline leading
from the lease was repaired.
- In 1997, Venoco acquired the rights
to PRC 421 from Mobil Gas Co.
- Venoco attempted to return the wells
to production, submitting applications
in October 1997 and April 1998 which
were withdrawn and found incomplete,
respectively.
- Problems with both wells arose in
November 2000: A methane gas leak was
discovered on 421-1, and 421-2 experienced
an oil leak induced by a routine fluid
level check. An emergency repair permit
was issued at the time; the wells were
temporarily depressurized and stabilized
and the leaks were repaired.
- In October of 2001, Venoco again
submitted an application to return
State Lease 421 to production following
a series of repairs to the access road
and the well stabilization project
completed that year. This application
was deemed incomplete.
- In 2002, Venoco re-submitted an application
to the State Lands Commission (SLC)
and the County of Santa Barbara, which
was referred to the City of Goleta
by SLC.
- The City of Goleta raised objection
to the recommissioning project due
to the history of leakage at the piers,
and in 2003, Venoco countered with
a “vested rights” claim
which would entitle a return to production
of SL 421. Venoco also argued against
the authority of the City of Goleta
to regulate the surf zone wells since
they are located offshore under SLC
jurisdiction.
- On January 19, 2004, following a
series of severe storms, a large section
of the outer caisson wall of SL 421-1
sheared off and fell into the surf
below. During low tides, large sections
of the concrete debris (approximately
15’ by 30’) and rebar were
visible on the beach at the base of
the caisson. Emergency permits were
issued by the City of Goleta, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, and the California
Coastal Commission and a repair project
to mend the caisson wall and clean
up the debris commenced on September
27, 2004, ending in December 2004.
- On May 17, 2004, the City of Goleta
went on record in opposition to resumed
oil and gas production from SL 421.
- On May 19, 2004, Venoco re-submitted
a recommissioning plan to the SLC,
County, and City of Goleta which is
currently under environmental review,
pending resolution of “vested
rights” legal issues.
Preparing for caisson
wall construction to seaward face
of pier
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Cleaning up fallen
caisson debris from beach area |
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