Article from Tim Rathmann on LinkedIn
California’s governor Gavin Newsome announced recently and is proposing 3,200-foot setback distance to separate communities from “toxic oil operations”. The draft rule requires a 3,200-foot setback zone between new oil wells and sensitive receptors.
“Sensitive receptor” means any residence including private homes, condominiums, apartments, and living quarters; education resources such as preschools and kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) schools; daycare centers; any building housing a business that is open to the public; and health care facilities such as hospitals or retirement and nursing homes. A sensitive receptor also includes long term care hospitals, hospices, prisons, and dormitories or similar live-in housing.
This now is following a trend of US states that are starting to do the same. In Colorado, effective January 15, 2021, The Colorado Oil Gas and Conservation Commission (COGCC) began implementing a controversial 2,000-foot setback between new wells and occupied buildings. Operators can apply for exceptions through four so-called “off-ramps,” which could allow drilling as close as 500 feet to homes and schools. For example, an exception could be granted if companies develop “substantially equivalent” protections for public health and safety. Operators could also have property owners or tenants sign a waiver to allow drilling within the buffer zone.
The California oil and gas industry is different from other states. The reason for the proposed setbacks stems from a public heath rulemaking process spearheaded from a “scientific advisory panel” through the University of California at Berkely. This group of activist scholar produces a document titled
“RE: Response to CalGEM Questions for the California Oil and Gas Public Health Rulemaking Scientific Advisory Panel” in October of 2021.
December 21, 2021, marked the end of the public comment period for the California Department of Conservation’s public health rulemaking process to increase protections for communities on the frontlines of oil drilling in a state where thousands of permits for new and reworked oil wells have been approved in the last three years.
In 60 days, more than 50,000 people submitted comments to the Department’s California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) in support of a proposed rule to require health and safety setbacks of 3,200 feet between “sensitive receptors” and oil and gas wells in California. That’s a rate of almost 1,000 comments a day, according to Aimee Dewing, Communications Lead for the Last Chance Alliance.
“Sensitive receptor” means any residence including private homes, condominiums, apartments, and living quarters; education resources such as preschools and kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) schools; daycare centers; any building housing a business that is open to the public; and health care facilities such as hospitals or retirement and nursing homes. A sensitive receptor also includes long term care hospitals, hospices, prisons, and dormitories or similar live-in housing.
So, what will this look like geographically? Let’s look at things from a distance and then zoom in.
How many active oil and gas wells are in California?
According to the State of California, there have been 221,841 oil wells recorded in California, of which, 78,606 are currently active. The wells are spread out across the state with gas being produced in the northern part (Sacramento Valley, northern San Joaquin Basin) of the state and oil & gas being produced in the southern part (southern San Joaquin, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles basins).
What would a 3200-foot buffer look like in the Los Angeles basin, for example? We took a deeper dive in the oil and gas wells in the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbor area. Our data shows that there are over 13,000 previously “plugged” wells, over 3,000 “active” wells and over 2,000 wells considered to be “Idle”. See the attached map with the buffer distance and notice how many wells and what area the 3200’ buffer is affected.
Make sure to stay tuned for updates on the decision-making regarding the setbacks. For more detailed maps or if you want to learn more, give Riviera U. Consulting or Grand River Analytics a call.
Author info:
Tim Rathmann – Riviera Unconventionals, LLC
Daniel Armine – Grand River Analytics, LLC
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