The State Lands Commission and 2H Offshore California Successfully Decommission Two Leaking Legacy Oil Wells on the Coastline
SACRAMENTO – The State Lands Commission and its Contractor, 2H Offshore California, Inc., have successfully completed the abandonment of two legacy oil wells in the intertidal zone of Summerland Beach in Santa Barbara County.
The two wells, known as Well A and Well B, are remnants of the unregulated Summerland Oil Field development in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During this period, the California coastline contained hundreds of oil and gas wells with associated infrastructure, most of which were abandoned when regulatory oversight was nonexistent. There are no historical records detailing the drilling, production, or the original abandonment of these two wells.
“California’s beautiful, world-renowned coastline is among our most treasured assets and endemic to our identity,” said Lieutenant Governor and State Lands Commission Chair Eleni Kounalakis. “As Chair of the State Lands Commission, we are committed to safeguarding our beaches, protecting marine ecosystems, and ensuring that communities like Santa Barbara are safe from the harmful impacts of legacy oil wells. By permanently sealing these leaking wells, we are taking concrete action to uphold our state’s commitment to a clean energy future.”
The condition of Well A and Well B was unknown until 2023, when heavy storms eroded the beach and exposed them. Upon discovery, both wells were observed to be leaking crude oil and classified as falling short of health, safety, and environmental protection requirements.
In late February, as part of the State Lands Commission’s wider coastal legacy well re-abandonment program, 2H initiated abandonment operations of Well A and Well B. The process involved excavating the wells during low tide, installing a 30-inch pipe pile over each well, filling the pile with cement to the surface, and sealing it permanently with a welded surface plate. The project was completed in four days.
“This project highlights 2H’s expertise in well abandonment and our commitment to safeguarding the California coastline, said Frank Wilkinson, Principal Engineer for 2H. “By securing these wells, our team has helped mitigate environmental risks and supported California’s efforts to address legacy oil infrastructure.”
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