339002_464-00-0024_HWOC_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025100801
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
339002_464-00-0024_HWOC_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/17/2025
Document Description
Holmes Western Oil Corporation (HWOC) proposes to initiate cyclic and steamflood operations by converting seven (7) oil and gas (O&G) production wells to steamflood injection wells and twenty-eight (28) production wells to cyclic steam injection wells on the Sunset 18B and NCT-2 Leases. The cyclic steam and steamflood wells would inject into the historically productive Miocene-aged Lower Antelope Sands of the USDW-exempt Antelope Shale member of the Monterey Formation.
For the proposed steamflood, HWOC seeks a Project Approval Letter (PAL) for seven steamflood injection wells and 28 cyclic steam injection wells. The rate of injection for this activity is 2,100 barrels/day maximum, or approximately 300 barrels steam per day (bspd) per well for the steamflood. Cyclic steaming for this project is planned as a single cycle of approximately 400 bspd/well for 25 days, totaling 10,000 barrels of steam.
Per the applicant’s project description, this project would utilize existing roads, power lines, and production/injection facilities. Existing pipelines would also be utilized, with tie-ins to the proposed injection wells. There would be no new drills or surface disturbance. A pre-disturbance biological survey would be conducted no more than 30 days prior to any proposed workover activities.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) issuing one new PAL to HWOC for the new Underground Injection Control (UIC) project No. 464-00-0024, located within the Midway-Sunset Oil Field in Kern County. The list of injection wells that would be associated with the new UIC project are included in Attachment 1.
Contact Information
Name
Scott Grodewald
Agency Name
Holmes Western Oil Corporation
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Name
Nicole Trezza
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
CEQA Program Contractor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated area
Counties
Kern
Regions
Countywide, Unincorporated
Township
11N
Range
23W
Section
18
Base
SB
Other Location Info
Midway-Sunset Oil Field
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1: California Code of Regulations, title 14, sections 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 alterations to 35 existing O&G production wells, 28 of which would be converted to cyclic steam injection and seven of which would be converted to steamflood injection. Converting the existing O&G production wells to injection wells would not require the expansion of existing facilities or the construction of new facilities. Per the applicant’s project description, this project would utilize existing roads, power lines, and production/injection facilities. Existing pipelines would also be utilized, with tie-ins to the proposed injection wells. There would be no new drills or surface disturbance. The proposed project would be located within an area in which existing injection activities are currently present. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board reviewed the proposed project for groundwater impacts and issued a issued a No Objection letter on September 25, 2023. Therefore, the proposed project would result in a negligible change in existing use.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4: California Code of Regulations, title 14, sections 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 convert seven existing production wells to steamflood injection and 28 existing production wells to cyclic steam injection as part of a new steamflood and cyclic steam UIC project. Per the applicant’s project description, this project would utilize existing roads, power lines, and production/injection facilities. Existing pipelines would also be utilized, with tie-ins to the proposed injection wells. There would be no new drills or surface disturbance. As the wells are existing, located on established well pads, and no surface disturbance is proposed, there would be no alterations to land that could impact biological resources or their habitat.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Exceptions to the Exemptions: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 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.
A copy of this NOE (as required by 14 CCR § 15062(a)) and all other related materials can be made available to the public by contacting the CalGEM CEQA Program, located at 715 P Street, MS 1803, Sacramento, CA 95814; by calling (916) 445-9686; or an electronic copy of these documents may be requested by contacting CEQA@conservation.ca.gov. The notice filed with the State Clearinghouse may be accessed online at: https://ceqanet.lci.ca.gov
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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