California Oil and Gas Report

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted on Oct. 29 to oppose the plan by the City of Whittier and Matrix Oil Co. to drill on publicly owned parkland in the Whittier Hills.

The unanimous vote followed a lengthy public meeting that included a number of emotional statements by opponents of the proposed drilling project. “Oil and open space don’t mix,” Supervisor Gloria Molina told The Los Angeles Times after the meeting.

The city and Santa Barbara-based Matrix Oil said the vote had little significance. They noted that the proposed project is already the subject of litigation. “The courts have jurisdiction over this matter, not the county,” said Whittier Mayor Bob Henderson. Continue reading →

The United States is moving into the position of the world’s No. 1 producer of oil and natural gas, ahead of Russia, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. is currently producing the equivalent of about 22 million barrels per day of oil and natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That’s just ahead of Russia’s output, which is estimated at 21.8 million barrels.

Continue reading →

The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 12-5 Friday, August 30, to approve Senate Bill 4 (Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills), clearing the way for the full Assembly to vote on regulations for hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), acidizing and other oilfield practices.

SB 4 would require permits for fracking, acidizing and other oil well stimulation practices. It would also require notification of neighbors, public disclosure of all chemicals used, groundwater and air quality monitoring, and an independent scientific study. Continue reading →