700778_HWOC_OG
Summary
SCH Number
2025070820
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
700778_HWOC_OG
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/21/2025
Document Description
HWOC proposes to sidetrack existing well Sarah Faye 119 into the same target zone its currently completed in. The project is expected to take 4 days and will be completed during the Fall season. The well type for this well will not change, it will remain as an oil & gas type. Sarah Faye 119 is not associated with a UIC project nor a UGS project. Construction related activities are not required. All equipment will be contained within existing facilities and there will be no expansion of existing former use. Temporary equipment needed for the project includes a Drilling Rig, Rig Pump, Cement Truck, Bins, Shaker, Storage Tank, Drill Pipe, and Casing. Vehicles needed to transport personnel, deliver supplies and materials, and transport waste will also visit the project site.
The proposed project will not result in disturbance or require clearing of habitat for road(s) or well pad remediation/expansion. Reworking the well will require the use of 400 bbls (16800 gallons) of produced water and 210.7 bbls (8849.4 gallons) of fresh water to mix the cement. Produced water will come from our Parkinson Production Facility, approximately 0.63 miles from the well location. The produced water will be transported to the project location by vacuum truck. Fresh water will be provided by the cementing service company.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) approving 1 permit for Holmes Western Oil Corporation to perform sidetrack work on the well listed below, in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field.
API # Well Name
0402907693 Sarah Faye 119
Contact Information
Name
Catherine Calantas
Agency Name
Department of Conservation
Job Title
Office Technician
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Scott Grodewald
Agency Name
Holmes Western Oil Corporation (HWOC)
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Township
11N
Range
23W
Section
05
Base
SB
Other Location Info
Midway-Sunset
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
Notice of Exemption
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