By the OGJ Staff
HOUSTON, Jan. 4 -- Hearings are scheduled the week of Jan. 14 regarding possible further oil and gas leasing in Los Padres National Forest, Central Coastal California.
The US Forest Service has 766,867 acres potentially available for leasing in the 1.78 million acre forest, which extends from 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles to the Big Sur area south of San Francisco. Recoverable oil attributable to maximum leasing is 84 million bbl, most of it from areas adjacent to existing oil fields.
The forest lands range from sea level to 9,000 ft elevation in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern counties, said a new draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), which had been expected since 1997.
No leasing would be considered in nine wilderness areas, the Santa Ynez River watershed, or Big Sur coastal zone.
The DEIS offers seven alternatives that range from no new leasing to the drilling of up to 151 wells in 10-15 years. Those wells would require 25 drill pads, 19 miles of road, and 17 miles of pipeline. Total disturbed area would be 163 acres initially and 70 acres long term.
A final EIS is expected by mid-2002, after which the forest supervisor would decide on leasing. Further studies, hearings, and permits would be needed before drilling could take place.
Production history
Los Padres is the state's only national forest with commercial oil and gas production and significant potential. Almost no drilling has occurred since 1990.
The forest has more than 600 wells. Four fields have 22 active leases that produced 334,000 bbl of oil and 563 MMcf of gas in 2000. The 22 leases cover 14,600 acres. Operators have applied for 26 more leases that cover more than 23,000 acres. No action has been taken.
Sespe field, 4 miles north of Fillmore, is the largest of the four fields. It was discovered in 1887. Productive limits of the six producing zones -- Rincon, Vaqueros, Upper, Middle, and Basal Sespe, and Coldwater -- have not been fully explored, the DEIS said. Reasons include environmental impacts, high drilling and completion costs, and a step average per well decline curve.
Cuyama South field 1 1/2 miles south of New Cuyama is expected to produce for another 30 years. The Silverthread area of Ojai field was discovered in 1866 about 8 miles east of Ojai. It is expected to continue producing oil and gas for 15 years.
Timber Canyon oil field, found in 1889, is 4 miles northeast of Santa Paula. Field life is estimated at 15 years.
