State Shuts 33 INjection wells - One in Ventura County - Sespe Field

This screenshot is of the DOGGR mapping system showing the closed injection well (red dot) and a one mile radius. Lake Piru is shown to they east, with HWY 126 in the south east corner of the image.

 The California Sate oil and gas regulatory agency the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) an agency of the Department of Conservation has permanently closed 33 injection wells in the State. Including one well in Ventura County located in the Sespe Field. 

This is part of the overall of the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program which came under fired over the past year as being inadequate according to federal standards. Injection wells are used for disposal and/or to enhance production from nearby standard production wells. 

The injection well in Ventura County now permanently closed is API number 11102615. It is operated by Seneca Resources and is located in the Tar Creek/Topa Topa Area. The well was first drilled in 1963 then converted to a water disposal well in 1988.

The zone of injection was previously thought to hold water with a Total Dissolved Solid count of 4600. This was over the 3000 threshold. But a recent recheck reveal the formation in fact had a TDS count of 900. This means that formation is protected under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and the injection well is in violation. 

According to well records with the State this well sustained a leak in 2012. Records state "packer is leaking. Packer must be repaired and casing." That document is dated May, 3, 2012. A handwritten note in the record states "No survey conducted because actively leaking backside when injecting, Seneca will re-work then resurvey, oil is generated from backside."  Then there is a document/report showing repair work was completed on November 11, 2012. All tubing was replaced. Then the DOGGR inspected signed off on the well on April 4, 2013. 

The record also contains a notice from DOGGR in Dec. 2011 notifying Seneca the well is noted as Active in the records, but the company has failed to report the injection pressures as required. Then before that in July of 2010, DOGGR had sent another document to Seneca notifying them the mechanical integrity test (MIT) survey as required was "overdue." The record does contain emails from an engineer with Seneca dated May 2009, where he states tests are being scheduled and he confirms which tests are required. He notes that this well requires a "water injection survey." 

The record shows in 1991 there were issues with the hydrostatic pressure and the well was to be shut in by Jan. 1 1992. Other information in the well involves fresh water in the area. 

The well record also contains documents showing at that time notices were printed in the local paper when a well was going to be converted. The notice was to seek public comment and input 

Here is the letter dated Oct. 15 regarding the permanent closure of the injection wells: