NOI Permit Rework UP-003
Summary
SCH Number
2025070001
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
NOI Permit Rework UP-003
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/1/2025
Document Description
Tidelands will rework waterflood (WF) well UP-003 (API 0403700911) in the Wilmington Field; Port of Long Beach (POLB), located on Pier A West. The rework consists of placement of a casing bowl within the existing wellbore and falls under Group B of CalGEM’s rework exemptions guidance document published in December 2023. Tidelands will conduct casing repair rework to regain mechanical integrity. The rework activities will allow Tidelands to maintain production and waterflood operation of the well. No new construction or facilities expansion will be required for the rework activities. All activities will be limited to fenced in areas protecting the existing wells that located within concrete cellars. The casing repair rework activities timeline is 10 days. Key stakeholders are Tidelands, CalGEM, the City of Los Angeles, POLB.
No impacts to wildlife are anticipated. The wellhead conductor is located in a concrete cellar. All work will occur within established oil and gas well cellars (trenches) in areas that provide minimal value as wildlife habitat. Pier A, the POLB, and surrounding area are entirely developed with industrial uses and do not support wildlife or native botanical species. There is no landscaping or other natural vegetation on or near the project sites that could be considered habitat for wildlife. Recent comprehensive surveys of the Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbors observed no birds nesting or foraging in the proposed Project area. Therefore, the proposed activities would not result in impacts either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. No streams, rivers, lakes or riparian vegetation exists on the site or on any areas immediately adjacent to the site. Therefore, the proposed activities would not affect riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving permit # 7051904 for Tidelands Oil Production Co. to rework the well UP-003 listed below, in the Wilmington Oil Field, to address well integrity issues.
API #: 0403700911
Well Name: UP-003
Contact Information
Name
Grayson Carlton
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
Associate Oil and Gas Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Andrew Cochrane
Agency Name
Tidelands Oil Production Co.
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Township
5S
Range
13W
Section
4
Base
SB
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1
Reasons for Exemption
Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1):
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
14 CCR § 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302):
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 rework, or replacement, of the existing wellbore which is needed to maintain mechanical integrity. The rework will be on the same site and would have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the well did before the rework. Additionally, no additional construction will occur.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2):
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 rework would not expand the facility.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 CCR §§ 15307, 15308
Reasons for Exemption
Classes 7 and 8, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources and the Environment (14 CCR §§ 15307, 15308):
Class 7 and Class 8 exemptions apply. The exemptions are for actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by law to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of a natural resource or the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for the protection of the environment.” As demonstrated in the record, the proposed project involves remedial/rework operations to address well integrity issues that requires swift action for protection of a natural resource and the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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