701783_CREH_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025070793
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
701783_CREH_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/18/2025
Document Description
The proposed project involves converting a production well to dry gas well using temporary equipment, such as a rework rig. The project duration is approximately six days. The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving one permit for California Resources Elk Hills, LLC (C0880) to rework the well listed below, in the Elk Hills Oil Field.
API # Well Name
0402927251 701783
Contact Information
Name
Char'Mane Robinson
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Andrew Cochrane
Agency Name
California Resources Elk Hills, LLC
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Township
30S
Range
23E
Section
35
Base
MD
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 applies to the “operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration” of existing facilities involving “negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously” (§ 1684.1). The proposed project involves converting one production well into a dry gas well. The proposed work involves testing, acidizing, and perforating the casing into the same established zone. These are negligible changes that would not result in significant impacts to surface or subsurface conditions. The district engineer also confirmed that the proposed work will have no modifying effect on UIC project 228-00-023. Therefore, the conversions would be a negligible change in use
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 applies because the rework of the well could be considered “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.”. The proposed project will reconstruct an existing idle production well by converting it into a dry gas well by testing, acidizing, and perforating the casing into an established zone. The proposed work activities will take place on the existing wellbore and well pad. These are negligible changes as they would not expand or modify the associated UIC projects and would have negligible surface and subsurface impact.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 applies because the rework “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 proposed project involves converting production to a dry gas well. The proposed drilling activities and associated temporary equipment will be contained within the existing wellpad. The proposed activities will not expand the existing well pad, infrastructure, and roadways. Once completed, the wells will continue to operate using the existing infrastructure. There will be no new facilities and no new ground surface disturbances. There are no expected impacts on biological resources, as the project will not disturb undisturbed areas.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Exceptions to Exemptions (14 CCR §§ 15300.2)
Reasons for Exemption
CalGEM further finds that there are no exceptions to the application of the categorical exemptions (PRC § 21084; 14 CCR § 15300.2) referenced above. For example, there is no substantial evidence that there are any “unusual circumstances” associated with the proposed project that create a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment, and that there are no significant “cumulative impacts” resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place. Therefore, reliance on the exemptions is appropriate.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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