253337_59800002_CalNRG_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2026020394
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
253337_59800002_CalNRG_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/11/2026
Document Description
CalNRG Operating, LLC (CalNRG) is submitting an Application for Injection Approval to modify underground injection control (UIC) project 59800002. The project involves updating UIC project data necessary to obtain a new Project Approval Letter (PAL) for the Chapman waterflood project. Per the applicant’s project description, changes that are being proposed as part of the project update include:
• Converting idle injection well Sterns 13 from a Kraemer injector to a Chapman injection well. This will require isolating the Kraemer zone with a bridge plug, perforating the Chapman zone, and returning the well to injection. This work is expected to take less than one week to complete and will require no modification or expansion of surface facilities. There will also be no new ground surface disturbance associated with this project.
• The injection rate into the two existing/active wells, Mobil Thompson 11 and Yarnell 28, will be reduced and diverted to the new injector (Sterns 13) where reservoir pressure is more depleted.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) issuing one revised PAL to CalNRG for the modification of UIC Project No. 59800002, located within the Richfield Oil Field in Orange County. The list of injection wells that would be associated with the modified UIC project are included in the table below.
API # Well Name
0405906475 Mobil Thompson 11
0405906496 Yarnell 28
0405920880 Mobil Sterns 13
Contact Information
Name
Nicole Trezza
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
CEQA Program Contractor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Clifton Simonson
Agency Name
CalNRG Operating, LLC
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Placentia
Counties
Orange
Regions
Countywide, Southern California
Township
03S
Range
09W
Section
28
Base
SB
Other Location Info
Richfield 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 wells involving “negligible or no expansion of existing or former use” (14 CCR § 1684.1). The proposed project would make minor changes to an existing waterflood well by converting the idle well to active injection, including placing a bridge plug and perforating the well, as a modification to existing UIC project 59800002. The proposed conversion and reduction in injection rate of two active waterflood wells would not require any construction or surface disturbance. The proposed project would be located on existing well pads within an existing urban oil field, in an area in which injection activities are currently present. The State Water Quality Control Board reviewed the proposed project for groundwater impacts and issued a issued a No Objection letter on September 22, 2023. Therefore, the proposed project would result in a negligible change in existing facilities.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 applies to the proposed project as the conversion of an existing idle well to active injection may 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 location of the project wells would not change, nor would the purpose of the wells, which is waterflood injection. Additionally, a CalGEM engineer has confirmed that the proposed work is within the scope of UIC project 59800002 and would be a continuation of operations within the UIC project.
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 proposed 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 reduce the injection rate for two existing waterflood wells and convert one existing idle waterflood well to active injection as part of modifications to UIC project 59800002. The proposed project would be located on existing well pads within an established urban oil field, with no proposed construction or surface disturbance, and no new roads or facilities would be constructed or expanded. Therefore, as there would be no surface disturbance, 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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