California Oil and Gas Report

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, by a 3-to-2 vote Oct. 7, approved ordinances aimed at exempting the 1,200 oil and gas wells now operating in unincorporated areas of the County from an anti-fracking measure voters will consider in November.

Known as Measure P, the proposal would ban “high-intensity petroleum operations,” which it defines as hydraulic fracturing, acid well stimulation treatment, cyclical steam injection, and the injection of solvents, acids and other chemicals. Proponents claim the measure (titled “The Healthy Air and Water Initiative to Ban Fracking”) will protect air quality and water supplies.

Supervisors at the meeting acknowledged that the measure, if passed, could trigger lawsuits by well owners and operators arguing that such a ban amounts to an unconstitutional “taking” of their property, and denial of vested rights in their property.

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A panel discussion on hydraulic fracturing will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, at California State University–Fullerton. The California Independent Petroleum Association (CIPA)  is encouraging its members to attend and participate.

The symposium will be presented at Titan Student Union at Cal State Fullerton. Admission and parking is free. Those wishing to attend can RSVP online. Questions can be submitted beforehand, or at the event.

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The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced Thursday, August 28^th, that it will resume auctioning oil and gas leases on federal land in California. The resumption of leasing, halted in 2012, was made possible by a scientific study showing no instances of harm caused by hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and other well stimulation activities.

Leasing activity will begin in 2015, the agency said.

Auctions of leases stopped after the agency was sued by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club, which claimed the BLM had failed to consider environmental effects of drilling.

The BLM announcement said the change reflected the findings of a study by the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), a research organization established by the state legislature to advise regulators and legislators. The study was peer reviewed by the US Geological Survey.

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