Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it may take at least a year to plug an oil well left by an abandoned drilling rig off the coast of Santa Barbara.
The sealing operation of the 30 wells pumped by Platform Holly was closed in March 2020 because the rig had little space for social distancing and other safety precautions.
Officials said at a virtual city hall held earlier this week that at that time, the staff had partially blocked 14 wells. More than a year later, in August, the staff began to ensure that the equipment resumed work.
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Peter Regan, the project manager of the State Land Commission who took over Holly in 2017, said: “This is all done, tested, and the rig is ready to be put into use when we enter the first well on October 5.”
"As of today, we have completed 4 out of 30 wells," he said. "That's four that are sealed from the oil-bearing formation all the way to the bottom of the seabed."
Officials estimate that this work will take 12 to 18 months.
Once completed, the problem of how to deal with the megastructure built in the 1960s needs to be solved.
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"I know that the final disposal, including the concept of platform reuse, is important to all of you," said Jennifer Lucchesi, executive officer of the committee.
These tasks are expected to include feasibility studies and environmental reviews of options, and may not begin until mid-2022.
Lucchesi said this week: “It will take us at least six months to begin public promotion and participation in the final disposal of the platform.”
After the operator filed for bankruptcy and gave up its interest in the state lease, the committee gained control in 2017.
Venoco assumed a maritime lease in the 1990s. Six years ago, when a corroded onshore pipeline broke and more than 140,000 gallons of oil spilled onto land and the ocean near Refugio State Beach, it had to shut down production.
The underground pipeline owned by Plains Transamerica Pipeline carries oil produced from the Holly platform.
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California’s Coastal Reserve Act prohibits the commission from issuing new offshore oil and gas leases. When Venoco gave up requesting platform lease rights from the committee, it effectively prevented further production on site.
The state’s share of well plugging and abandonment costs is expected to reach US$132 million.
According to the committee, ExxonMobil, the former operator of the platform, is legally responsible for funding most of the work to plug the oil wells and deactivate Holly, which is expected to cost nearly US$350 million.
Cheri Carlson introduced the environment of Star of Ventura County. Contact her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.