Platform Holly/Piers 421/Venoco Bankruptcy
News
The Commission wins another legal victory against the Venoco Trustee December 12, 2023
End of the Police Powers Emergency at the Ellwood Onshore Facility June 9, 2023
Ellwood Onshore Facility Handover Status June 9, 2023
Commission to Celebrate Successful Removal of the Last Oil Production Shorezone Piers in California May 31, 2023
Last Two Shorezone Oil Piers in the State are Removed February 16, 2023
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Current Status
Last Updated: February 6, 2025
In September 2024, the Commission completed the permanent plugging and abandonment of Platform Holly’s 30 oil and gas wells located offshore of the City of Goleta. This represents a milestone in California’s legacy of oil and gas development because these were the last remaining offshore production wells associated with a platform in state waters of the Santa Barbara Channel, the birthplace of offshore oil production. Technical studies supporting the coming Environmental Impact Report are underway. We anticipate releasing a Notice of Preparation in 2025. That will be followed by the development of a draft Environmental Impact Report for public review and comment. ExxonMobil will decommission Platform Holly at its expense after the Commission certifies the Environmental Impact Report and approves a Project. More information is available in the Phase 2 agreement and agenda Item 74.
Background
In April 2017, Venoco quitclaimed its interests in the South Ellwood Field leases, including Platform Holly and the Ellwood Beach pier leases near the City of Goleta. The quitclaims ended commercial oil and gas production in state waters in the Santa Barbara Channel and returned operational control of these assets to the Commission. California’s Coastal Sanctuary Act prohibits the Commission from issuing new offshore oil and gas leases.
The Commission selected Beacon West Energy Group, LLC as its contractor to operate and maintain Platform Holly and the Ellwood Onshore Facility. Beacon West, under the Commission’s oversight, began ensuring the security and safe daily operations and maintenance at Platform Holly and the Ellwood Onshore Facility in September 2017.
ExxonMobil, the successor in interest to the prior operator, Mobil Oil Corporation, and Venoco’s predecessor for these lease interests, agreed to fulfill its obligation to abandon the 30 wells on Platform Holly, seven of which were Venoco re-drilled wells and are state obligations, and the two near-shore wells on what was Oil & Gas Lease 421 in Goleta (Piers 421 wells).
The Piers 421 wells were successfully plugged and abandoned in 2019. Plug and abandonment work on Platform Holly began in October 2019, only to be halted in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related physical distancing requirements. The Commission maintained 24-hour staffing at Platform Holly and the Ellwood Onshore Facility during the hiatus to ensure health and safety, given the dangerous amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas that is present in the wells until they are fully plugged and abandoned.
Public Meetings and Town Halls
- Goleta Town Hall Meeting 06/07/2023
Presentation | Video of the meeting - Public Hearings 02/10/2022
2 p.m. meeting | 6 p.m. meeting - Goleta Town Hall Meeting 12/08/2021
Presentation | Video of the meeting - Public Scoping Meetings 06/24/2021
2 p.m. meeting | 6 p.m. meeting - Goleta Town Hall Meeting 03/10/2021
Presentation | Video of the meeting - Goleta Town Hall Meeting 08/27/2020
Presentation | Video of the meeting - Goleta Town Hall Meeting 11/07/2019
Presentation | Webcast - Goleta Town Hall Meeting 06/27/2019
Presentation | Webcast - Goleta Town Hall Meeting 11/15/2018
Presentation | Video of the meeting - Goleta Town Hall Meeting 05/14/2018
Presentation - Goleta Town Hall Meeting 06/15/2017
Presentation | Photo Gallery
Previous Staff Reports
07/11/1997 (76) – Consider Approval of the Assignment of Undivided Interests in Oil and Gas Lease Nos. PRC 421.1, PRC 3120.1 and PRC 3242.1, and industrial leases PRC 3904.1 and PRC 5515.1, Santa Barbara County.
02/27/2018 (92) – Consider delegating authority to the Executive Officer to enter into Agreements necessary for access and operations on former State Oil and Gas Lease Nos. PRC 1466.1, PRC 145.1, and PRC 410.1 related to Rincon Island; and provide an update on the status of Oil and Gas Decommissioning Projects undertaken by the Commission, including the Becker Well Abandonment and Remediation Project and the decommissioning of facilities on former leases encompassing Platform Holly and Rincon Island, off Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
10/19/2023 (63) – Consider authorization to execute the proposed Phase 2 Agreement by and between the California State Lands Commission and ExxonMobil Corporation in settlement of the responsibilities to undertake work on Platform Holly, offshore Goleta, Santa Barbara County, including platform hardening, caretaker inspections, and future decommissioning of Platform Holly.
Additional Information
Final Abandonment of PRC 421-2 Well
Update on Abandoned Offshore Oil & Gas Wells
Memorandum of Understanding – CSLC / City of Goleta
421 Decommissioning Agreement – CSLC / Exxon
Phase 1 Agreement – CSLC / Exxon
Beacon West Energy Group, LLC contract
Reimbursement Agreement extension request
Assignment Agreement – Mobil Oil Corp. agrees to retain responsibility for the Leases
Geologic Energy Management Division Orders
Davis v. State of California
Leases, Amendments, and Quitclaims
PRC 421 Amendment – 10/22/1959
PRC 421 Amendment – 04/01/1993
PRC 421 Amendment – 08/01/1997