December 14, 2022:
As of December 7, 2022, the St. James site depressurization work was complete. CalGEM is working to complete its final review of the contractor’s depressurization work and has completed and signed off on 19 wells and 2 wells are still under review.
December 1, 2022:
On November 28, 2022, the LAFD notified CalGEM that all safety concerns related to the fire suppression system were resolved, and CalGEM made a determination that the depressurization work may resume. Depressurization work at the St. James site resumed on November 29, 2022.
November 9, 2022:
On November 3, 2022, the CalGEM contractor’s depressurization work on the St. James site has been paused due to a faulty AllenCo fire suppression system that released water during the early morning hours, flooding the well cellar. The Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) determined there was no fire, just a malfunctioning alarm and sprinkler system.
A hydrocarbon odor was observed during a CalGEM site visit over the weekend on November 5. As a result, CalGEM has asked the contractor to pause work and is working with a separate contractor to safely drain the water in the well cellar.
For the health and safety of all onsite workers and the neighboring community, CalGEM has also determined the fire suppression system must be fully operational and certified by LAFD immediately prior to continuing any depressurization work at the site.
Once the water is removed from the well cellar and the fire suppression system is fully functional and certified by LAFD, the depressurization work will continue.
November 1, 2022: As of October 31, 2022, Anderson Integrated Services was able to bleed down gas pressure from all 21 oil and gas wells at the site.
Fluid has been pumped into 11 of the 21 wells to hydrostatically balance upward formation pressure, ensuring the wells become safe and stable. Of those 11 wells, CalGEM has determined one well to be successfully depressurized. CalGEM is currently reviewing depressurization work on the other 10 wells. The contractor is concurrently working on depressurization of the remaining 10 wells. Work on the wells continues.
October 21, 2022: The well depressurization process began this week at the AllenCo Oil Production Facility St. James site.
As of Friday, October 21, Anderson Integrated Services was able to bleed down gas pressure from 19 of the 21 oil and gas wells. After degassing of the wells is completed, one of the first phases of the work, the next step will be to pump fluid into the wells to ensure the wells become safe and stable.
October 14, 2022: The well depressurization work is scheduled to begin the week of October 17, 2022, at the St. James site. The contractor has begun to move equipment on to the site.
CalGEM does not anticipate any work-related noise, traffic generation, or other significant impact on the surrounding community during depressurization work. The work will mostly be contained within the property boundary. CalGEM has required all on site work to take place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
September 28, 2022: On September 26, 2019, CalGEM issued Order number 1162 to AllenCo Energy, Inc. (AllenCo). AllenCo appealed the order and after a hearing before the Director's Office of Appeals the order was affirmed on January 21, 2020. The Remedial Order requires AllenCo to provide CalGEM with a work plan for safely depressurizing wells and placing a suitable fluid in the wells which would render zero gas pressure at the wellhead. AllenCo has not provided CalGEM with a work plan nor otherwise commenced remedial work pursuant to the Remedial Order.
As a result of the operator’s inaction to fulfill requirements of the Remedial Order, the Department of Conservation Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) made the decision to move forward with depressurization of oil and gas wells at the AllenCo Oil Production Facility.
CalGEM selected Andersen Integrated Services as the contractor for the well depressurization work at the St. James site. The contract has been finalized and executed on August 5, 2022. Necessary planning and preparatory work, including obtaining appropriate permits from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to operate the emission control equipment, is underway. CalGEM anticipates the depressurization work to begin in mid-to-late September and may continue through mid-December.
On September 15, 2022, Andersen Integrated conducted preparatory work onsite. This work consisted of fluid level measurements in the wells. CalGEM's Southern District is overseeing the contractor’s work.
