256780_464-00-0019_HWOC_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025090723
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
256780_464-00-0019_HWOC_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/17/2025
Document Description
The proposed project consists of HWOC seeking the issuance of one project approval letter (PAL) by the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) for new Underground Injection Control (UIC) project No. 464-00-0019, located within the Midway-Sunset Oil Field. The list of injection wells that would be associated with the new UIC project are included in Attachment 1.
The proposed project would a create a new UIC project for steamflood and cyclic steam injection operations. The new UIC project would include 65 existing wells transferred from UIC project No. 464-00-393: 60 cyclic steam injection wells, two oil and gas production wells, which would be converted to temperature observation wells, and three oil and gas production wells, which would be converted to injection wells. The new UIC project would also include 17 additional existing wells, which are unassociated with UIC project No. 464-00-393: 15 oil and gas production wells, which would be converted to injection wells, one oil and gas production well, which would be converted to a temperature observation well, and one temperature observation well. No new ground disturbance is anticipated as a result of the proposed project. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board reviewed the proposed project for groundwater impacts and provided a No Objection letter on April 11, 2023.
Contact Information
Name
Mikayla Vaba
Agency Name
California Department of Conservation (DOC)
Job Title
Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Scott Grodewald
Agency Name
Holmes Western Oil Corporation
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Township
11N
Range
23W
Section
21
Base
SB
Other Location Info
Midway-Sunset 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 applies because the proposed project consists of “minor alterations” of existing oil and gas production wells involving “negligible or no expansion of existing or former use” (14 CCR § 1684.1). The proposed project would make minor changes to 21 existing oil and gas production wells, 18 of which would be converted to injection wells and three of which would be converted to observation wells. Conversion of the oil and gas production wells to injection will not require any mechanical changes to the casing of the wells. Conversion of the oil and gas production wells to observation will involve negligible changes to the existing casing. The proposed project would also involve the issuance of a PAL and administratively associating 82 existing wells, including the 21 wells that would be converted, with UIC project No. 464-00-0019. The proposed project will be located within an area where existing injection activities are currently present. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board reviewed the proposed project for groundwater impacts and provided a No Objection letter on April 11, 2023. Therefore, the project would result in negligible change in existing 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 project consists of “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 the wellbores of three existing oil and gas production wells to convert them to observation wells. This would be a negligible change of use in the wells that would take place on existing wellbores located on existing well pads.
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 project consists of “minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation” (14 CCR § 1684.2). The proposed project would transfer existing wells from an existing UIC project to a new UIC project. This is an administrative change that will not have any physical impacts on the environment. The proposed project would convert 18 existing oil and gas production wells to injection wells; however, these conversions will not require mechanical changes to the casing. The proposed project would also convert three existing oil and gas production wells to observation wells. This work would take place on existing well pads which are large enough to accommodate the necessary equipment and can be accessed by existing roads. Well pads and roadways are maintained with a 10-foot vegetation buffer for everyday operations and fire control. No new roadways are required. No new permanent facilities will be constructed, and no expansion of associated facilities will be required. Therefore, there would be no significant ground disturbance that could impact biological resources or their habitat.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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.