Right Column
Mineral Resources Management Division - Rigs to Reefs Workshop
Paul B. Mount, II |
 |
Mr. Mount is the Chief of the Mineral Resources Managment Division, |
| ~From Transcript ~ |
Welcome Commissioners and all the participants in the audience. It should be a lively day today, I think. The State Lands Commission is not without experience in decommissioning.
But first let me say that there's a bill going through the Assembly or will be going through the Assembly, Senate Bill 241. That bill for those of you not familiar creates permanent funding for enhanced community resources and permits facility operators to leave all or part of their facilities in place in exchange for participation in the endowment fund.
And then the endowment would be coordinated by the Fish and Game, California Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission and B.C.D.C. federal agencies as well.
It also involves a scientific panel which we're not going to get into today nor are we going to discuss this bill. But I just want to make you aware of it.
As I said, we're not without experience in decommissioning. In 1974 we decommissioned platform Harry. In 1988 two platforms, Helen and Herman. In 1996 to 1999 we decommissioned four Chevron platforms. And then finally in 1999, the Sea Cliff Pier, which is not complete yet.
This is the location of those facilities, all offshore Santa Barbara. We have not decommissioned any facilities in Southern California as yet. But then Belmont island is coming up. It will be our first decommissioning project in Southern California.
This is Platform Harry. It was decommissioned in 1974 one and a half miles off Point Conception, with a modified jack up rig. At that time we considered a reefing option, but because of pressure from various groups, we dropped that option.
There was a disapproval of relocation of parts of the platform. So the main structure was towed away and reused somewhere else. Nothing was left in place. And the site was totally cleaned up.
In 1988 we decommissioned Platforms Helen and Herman. Again, there was some discussion about leaving parts of the platform in place. However, controversy resulted in total removal and clean up of the site.
Then in 1996 to 1999, four platforms were decommissioned, Chevron platforms also off Santa Barbara County or Carpinteria area. We also considered artificial reefing in that case. But because of the controversy involved and lack of someone to accept the liability for leaving the platforms or portions in place, it was decided that it would be best to totally remove the platforms which was done. And the only thing left remaining is some shell mounds which is another issue in itself.
Future decommissioning projects for State Lands. We have Belmont Island, which will be on our commission agenda today. And it was one of the reasons that one of the projects prompted this workshop.
We also have four platforms. One offshore Santa Barbara and three offshore Orange County. We have an island, Rincon Island also off Ventura County. And then the Four THUMS islands in the future to be reconsidered possibly for abandonment. But they may remain in place. And that's yet to be determined.
So these are all the offshore facilities we have in state waters that have yet to be decommissioned. I know that there are a number of facilities in federal waters that the M.M.S. will probably talk about in a few minutes.