419148_32600007_HWOC_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025070524
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
419148_32600007_HWOC_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/14/2025
Document Description
Holmes Western Oil Corporation (HWOC) would modify underground injection control (UIC) project 32600007 by converting 12 oil and gas production wells to waterflood injection. The project requires a modification to the project approval letter (PAL) to add these wells to the five existing waterflood injection wells in the project. The UIC project would consist of 17 total waterflood injection wells. The waterflood would inject into the historically productive and aquifer-exempted Miocene-aged Temblor Formation. This project will utilize existing roads, power lines, and production/injection facilities. Existing pipelines will also be utilized, with tie-ins to the proposed new wells. No new drills or surface additional surface disturbance are planned for this project.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving one PAL for HWOC to modify the UIC project 32600007, including the rework of the wells listed below, in the Jacalitos Oil Field.
API # Well Name
0401925496 Sec 8 4-2
0401925351 Sec 8 4-6
0401924814 Sec 8 4-8R
0401926104 Sec 8 5-7i
0401926105 Sec 8 5-8i
0401924757 Sec 8 6-8
0401926111 Sec 8 7-7i
0401924069 Sec 8 8-3
0401925492 Sec 8 8-6
0401924434 Sec 8 17
0401924499 Sec 8 20
0401924500 Sec 8 21
Contact Information
Name
Mikayla Vaba
Agency Name
California Department of Conservation (DOC)
Job Title
Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Scott Grodewald
Agency Name
Holmes Western Oil Corporation
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Southern California
Township
21N
Range
15E
Section
8
Base
MD
Other Location Info
Jacalitos Oil Field
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 1 consists of the “operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously.” This includes “remedial, maintenance, conversion, and abandonment work” (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1). The proposed project would convert 12 existing oil and gas production wells to waterflood injection, which would be a negligible change in use. The work required to convert the wells to injection does not involve mechanical changes to the casing. A CalGEM engineer has confirmed that this is an administrative modification to UIC project 32600007 with negligible surface impacts and that the area of review (AOR) for the UIC project would be minimally expanded. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) reviewed the project for water quality impacts and does not object to the project. Therefore, any subsurface impacts would also be negligible.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 consists of the “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” (14 CCR § 15302). The proposed project would reconstruct 12 existing oil and gas production wells by converting them to waterflood injection. These changes would take place on existing wells which are located on existing well pads. Conversion of the wells would be a negligible change in use and would not substantially expand the scope of UIC project 32600007.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 consists of “drilling operations that result only in minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation” (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2). The proposed project would result in negligible changes to 12 existing wells to convert them to waterflood injection. The conversions would not require mechanical changes to the casing of the wells. The project would be located on existing well pads which can accommodate the necessary equipment, and would utilize existing roads, power lines, and pipelines. Therefore, there would be no new ground disturbance that could impact the surrounding environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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