690774_Group_CRPC_UIC

Summary

SCH Number
2025060123
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation (DOC)
Document Title
690774_Group_CRPC_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/4/2025
Document Description
Project Site(s) are located near the unincorporated area of Bakersfield in Kern County, California consisting of approximately 5.98 acres in the subject property. The subject property is located in a Project Area that includes private surface ownership and associated leases, as well as private mineral ownership and leases. The proposed Project Area consists of a fully operational active oil field named Kern Front Oil Field (KFOF). The subject wells are among approximately 1,137 other wells within the KFOF. The subject property is located on a relatively hilly, open area in a dry region of the southern San Joaquin Valley. The topography of the area is typically comprised of low-lying hills, agricultural fields, and sparse vegetation, surrounded by fully industrial oil and gas development. The primary work objective is to sidetrack thirteen (13) existing well(s). This work is designed to support continuation of oil and gas resource development in the area. The wells are not being sidetracked (i) for abandonment purposes only or (ii) in connection with an enforcement order to mitigate or prevent environmental damage or surface expression. The potential disturbance footprint would encompass an existing 20,000 square foot (100 ft x 200 ft) well pad per well. The entirety of this work would be located in an area of existing disturbance and no change in the surface topography (such as drainage patterns) would result. There will be no expansion of the existing well pads, roads, staging areas, or pipelines. No new grading would occur in any undisturbed areas. No new road construction or expansions would be required for the proposed project. Routine maintenance activities at the site would include removal of weeds and other ruderal vegetation for fire control and road maintenance. The work will commence after CalGEM permit approval. The time of year the work would occur is dependent on the date of final CalGEM permit approval. For a single well, it is expected to take approximately 17 operational days to complete all construction phases. The project site is located within the Kern Front Hills Oilfield in unincorporated Kern County, in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The Kern Front Oilfield is a large southwest dipping homo-clinal structure bounded by the Kern Front Fault to the east. It contains two major producing units, the Etchegoin and the Chanac Formations. Both zones are composed of sand, with interbedded silts and clays. Many small southwest-trending faults run across the field. The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving 13 permits for California Resources Production Corporation to perform sidetrack work on the wells listed below, in the Kern Front Oil Field. API # Well Name 0402955638 Wetmore-Young 2 0403021667 Lehmann 40 0403054365 308 0403052352 Lightner 4 0403053656 333 0403038561 Wetmore 37R 0403056308 Sill One 69 0403053659 353 0403054557 331 0403045898 McDougall 16 0403055002 91 0403052216 McDonald 25 0403021774 Young Fee 115

Contact Information

Name
Andrew Cochrane
Agency Name
California Resources Production Corporation
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Email

Name
Catherine Calantas
Agency Name
Department of Conservation
Job Title
Office Technician
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Township
28S
Range
27E
Section
14
Base
MD
Other Location Info
Kern Front

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1)
Reasons for Exemption
The "Class 1" (14 CCR § 15301) exemption is applicable per the CEQA Guidelines and CalGEM's regulations (14 CCR § 1684.1) because the proposed work consists of repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of an existing previously permitted well involving no expansion of former use. The Class includes, but is not limited to: remedial, maintenance, conversion, and abandonment work on oil, gas, injection, and geothermal wells. The well would maintain its existing well type and the use of the well would remain the same as before.

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 applies because it consists of "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, "Replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or & "facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity." The proposed project is the sidetrack, or replacement, of the existing wellbore. The sidetrack will be on the same site and would have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the well did before the sidetrack. Additionally, no additional construction will occur.

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 exemption applies. The proposed project would be conducted entirely on an existing pad with enough space to contain all equipment. The project would not disturb any undisturbed areas. The proposed project is located within an industrial area. Therefore, the proposed project "consists of drilling operations that result in only minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation." The sidetrack would not expand the facility.

Attachments

Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.

Download CSV New Search Print