Public Notice – Temporary Use of Lookout Park Parking Lot and Beach Area

The California State Lands Commission and its consultant, InterAct PMTI, will perform well re-abandonment (re-sealing) work on a leaking well, known as Duquesne 910, located on the west end of Summerland Beach in shallow water.

Summerland Duquesne 910 Well Re-Abandonment

What:

Re-abandonment activities are an essential part of the Commission’s efforts to permanently stop the hydrocarbon source from leaking into surrounding waters and onto the beach. These legacy wells date back to the largely unregulated development of the Summerland Oil Field in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Heavy equipment will be used during low tide periods to complete re-abandonment, which includes:

1. Excavating to expose the well.
2. Driving pipe pile over the well into the impermeable cap rock to encapsulate the old well.
3. Filling the annular space between the pipe pile and the well with cement, which will act as a primary barrier to the migration of hydrocarbons.
4. Welding a steel plate on top of the pipe pile, which acts as a secondary barrier to hydrocarbon migration.

Spill response equipment and trained personnel will be staged in the Lookout Park parking lot as a precautionary measure.

When:

Well re-abandonment operations are scheduled to begin on December 2 and conclude on December 7.

Why:

Though the Duquesne 910 well is no longer in production, it periodically leaks small quantities of oil. The well is roughly 100 years old and must be re-abandoned to prevent ongoing leakage. It is in the best interest of the state, the public, and the environment to seal the well and keep our beaches clean.