phase 1 elk hills ae - home california department of ... exemptions...2017/10/24 · elk hills phase...

AQUIFER EXEMPTIONLower Tulare Formation: Elk Hills Oil Field, Phase 1 & 2 A presentation by the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources with preliminary concurrence by the State Water Resources Control Board and Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

1October 24, 2017

http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dog/Pages/Aquifer_Exemptions.aspxThe Elk Hills Oil Field, Aquifer Exemption can be accessed at:

Additional written comments may be submitted by email to: [email protected] to: (916) 324-0948, or mail to: Department of Conservation

801 K Street, MS 24-02 Sacramento, CA 95814 ATTN: Aquifer Exemption

http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dog/Pages/Aquifer_Exemptions.aspx


Agenda:Open Meeting – 4 pmIntroductory remarks – Bill BartlingDiscussion of Phase 1 and 2 Exemption Proposals – Emaad AbdullaayPublic Comments – facilitated by Bill BartlingFinal RemarksClose Meeting

3October 24, 2017


4October 24, 2017

1. Location

2. Stratigraphy

3. History

a. Developmentb. Injection

4. Exemption Proposal

5. Meets Federal Exemption Criteria

a. Not a current source of drinking water.b. Total Dissolved Solids more than 3,000 and less than 10,000 mg/l and not reasonably expected

to supply a public water system.

6. Meets CA State Exemption Criteria

a. The injection of fluids will not affect the quality of water that is, or may reasonably be, used for any beneficial use.

b. The Injected fluid will remain in the aquifer or portion of the aquifer that would be exempted.

C o n t e n t s

5

Approx. 27 Miles southwest of Central Bakersfield

Home

Elk Hills

Buena Vista

6

Bakersfield

L o c a t i o n

I-5

L o c a t i o n 1973 Productive Areas

Home

0 1 2miles

7

Elk Hills Type Log

1973 Hydrocarbon Producing Zones (Exempted)

COMPOSITE ELECTRIC LOG

TULARE

FORMATION

SAN JOAQUIN

ETCHEGOIN

MONTEREY

TEMBLOR

1973 Non-Hydrocarbon Producing Zone (Tulare) (Not Exempted)

1973 Productive Area

California Oil and Gas Fields, 1973

L o c a t i o n 1973 Productive Areas

Home

0 1 2miles

8

Phase 2 (Lower Tulare)

Phase 1 (Lower Tulare)

• Map of the Elk Hills Administrative Boundary showing the Phase 1 and Phase 2 aquifer exemption proposal areas.

Well 57WD-18G

Well 36-30R

Home

UP

PER

TU

LAR

E

PLE

ISTO

CEN

E

TULA

RE

FOR

MAT

ION

Tu l a r e S t r a t i g r a p h y - P h a s e 1

~ 250 feet of Clay (Seal)

Sand-rich layer

~ 75 feet of Claystone (Seal)

Mixture of sand, gravel, and clay

9

Sand-rich layer

ZONE A

TULARE CLAY(Basal Alluvial Clay)

ZONE B

Amnicola Claystone

LOWER TULARE

Air-water contact

Phase 1 Tulare FormationType Log

Well 57WD-18G

• At the Elk Hills Oil Field, the Tulare Formation consists of fluvial channels, floodplain and lacustrine deposits of gravel, sand, silt, clay, and limestone.

Phase 1 Lower Tulare Proposal

San Joaquin Formation

Home

UP

PER

TU

LAR

E

PLE

ISTO

CEN

E

TULA

RE

FOR

MAT

ION Sand-rich layer

~75 feet of Claystone (Seal)

10

Sand-rich layer

Phase 2 Tulare FormationType LogWell 36-30R

AMNICOLA CLAYSTONE

UNSATURATEDINTERVAL

UNSATURATEDINTERVAL

Air-water contact

SATURATEDINTERVAL

OIL SANDSATURATED INTERVAL

Water and Oil bearing interval LO

WER

TU

LAR

E

Tu l a r e S t r a t i g r a p h y - P h a s e 2


1911Production from the Etchegoin Formation occurred at Elk Hills Oil Field as early as 1911.

1957 - PresentWaterflooding was initiated in 1957 and has continued to the present for the Etchegoin and Monterey Formations.

1981 The Tulare Formation has been used since 1981 for injection and disposal of produced water.

1998 The Elk Hills Oil Field was formerly Naval Petroleum Reserve 1 and managed by the US Navy and the US Department of Energy before being sold in 1998 to Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY).

2014In 2014 California Resources Elk Hills, LLC became the operator of Elk Hills Oil Field.

H i s t o r y D e v e l o p m e n t a n d I n j e c t i o n

Home11

Amnicola Claystone

Home12

R-B

R-B’

Phase 1 Tulare Proposal

1300

1000

500

0

-500

-1000

-1500

-2000

-2500

-3000

-3300

Tulare Clay

Phase 1 Lower Tulare ProposalArea outside and not included in Phase 1 Lower Tulare Proposal

San Joaquin Formation and older

stratigraphic unit 5X vertical

exaggeration

Upper Tulare

R-B’R-B

Horizontal scale

Asphalto Exemption

Area

Exempted

1 mile

1 mile

Air Water Contact

Lower Tulare

E x e m p t i o n P r o p o s a l - P h a s e 1 R-B to R-B’ cross-section

Home13

R-Y’

R-YPhase 1 Tulare Proposal

Lower Tulare

Upper TulareZone B

5X vertical exaggeration

Buena Vista Exemption Area

1500

1000

500

0

-500

-1000

-1500

-2000

R-Y R-Y’


Exempted

Horizontal scale


stratigraphic unit

Tulare Clay

Air Water Contact

Amnicola Claystone

1 mile

1 mile

E x e m p t i o n P r o p o s a l - P h a s e 1 R-Y to R-Y’ cross-section

Home14

1400

1000

500

0

-500

-1000

-1500

Asphalto Exemption Area

Tulare Clay Air Water Contact



stratigraphic unit

Phase 2 Lower Tulare ProposalArea outside and not included in Phase 2 Tulare ProposalExempted

0 4000 feet

Horizontal scale

R-3 R-3’

R-3

R-3’

Amnicola Claystone

Phase 2

Upper TulareZone A

Upper TulareZone B

Lower Tulare

E x e m p t i o n P r o p o s a l - P h a s e 2 R-3 to R-3’ cross-section

Home15

Phase 2 Tulare ProposalArea outside and not included in Phase 2 Tulare Proposal

Exempted

1700

1500

1000

500

0

-500

-1000

Railroad Gap Exemption Area


0 4000 feet

Horizontal scale


stratigraphic unit

Upper TulareZone B

Lower Tulare

Air Water Contact

R-1 R-1’

0 5000 feet

R-1’

R-1

R-1 to R-1’ cross-section

Phase 2

Amnicola Claystone

Offset of the Air – Water contact

E x e m p t i o n P r o p o s a l - P h a s e 2

Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4

a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water.

ANDc) The total dissolved solids (TDS) content of the ground water is more than 3,000 and less than 10,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L), and it is not reasonably expected to supply a public water system.

Home

Federal Exemption Criteria

16



ANDc) The total dissolved solids (TDS) content of the ground water is more than 3,000 and less than 10,000 mg/L, and it is not reasonably expected to supply a public water system.

Home

Federal Exemption Criteria

17

40 CFR 146.4(a)


a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water

Home

40 CFR 146.4(a)

18

Public Water System Wells

• No water wells are currently used as source of drinking water within Phase 1 Proposal Area, and the Elk Hills Oil Field administrative boundary.

• The closest Public Water Well is located about 8 miles from the proposed exemption area.

• The well draws water from zones above the proposed exemption area (Lower Tulare Formation).

Elk Hills

Phase 1 AE Proposal

Buena Vista

Coles Levee, North

Coles Levee, South

Location of the Closest Public Water Well (GEOTRACKER GAMA)

0 5000’

Federal Exemption Criteria–Phase 1



Home

40 CFR 146.4(a)

• 29 abandoned water wells were located within the water wells review area.

• All of the water wells were completed above the Amnicola Claystone.

Water Wells Locations in the Review Area

19

Meets Federal Exemption Criteria

Approximate Water Well Location (GEOTRACKER GAMA)

0 3

N

Water Wells Review Area

miles

D’


D

Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4,


Home

40 CFR 146.4(a)

Water Wells Completion Zone in the Review Area

20

1000

500

0

-500

-1000

-1500

-2000

-2500

-3000

-3500

D D’

5,846 ppm TDS(KCWA, 1994)

Water Wells


San Joaquin and Etchegoin

Formations (Undiff.)

Vertical scale=2X horizontal scaleAmnicola Claystone

Tulare Clay E Clay

Upper Tulare

Lower Tulare

Air Water Contact

0 2000 feet

Horizontal scale

Undifferentiated Alluvium/Tulare


Upper Tulare Zone B

Upper Tulare Zone B

Lower Tulare


a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water

Home

40 CFR 146.4(a)

21

Public Water System Wells • No water wells currently

used as source of drinking water within Phase 2 Proposal Area, and the Elk Hills Oil Field administrative boundary.

• The closest Public Water Well is located 5 miles from the proposed exemption area.

Buttonwillow CWD

West Kern WD

Phase 2 AE Proposal

Elk Hills

0 5000 feet

Location of The Closest Public Water Well (GEOTRACKER GAMA)




Home

40 CFR 146.4(a)

• 105 records of water supply wells found within the water wells review area.

• All water supply wells completed above the Amnicola Claystone.

• Water wells are vertically separated from the lower Tulare by approximately 1070 to 2410 feet.

• No water wells currently used as source of drinking water within Phase 2 Proposal Area, the water wells review area and Elk Hills Oil Field administrative boundary.

Water Wells Location in the Review Area

22


71 Water Wells

0 5000 feet

Phase 2 AE Proposal

Elk Hills

saA

A’

Phase 2 AE Proposal

Elk Hills


0 1 2miles


105 Water Wells



Home

40 CFR 146.4(a)

Water Wells Completion Zone in the Review Area

23

Water Supply WellsE Clay (Corcoran)

Upper Tulare 4th ClayAmnicola Claystone

Upper TulareZone B

Lower Tulare

A

San Joaquin Formation

Phase 2 Tulare ProposalArea outside and not included in Phase 2 Tulare Proposal

0 2000 feet

Horizontal scale


Cross section A-A’

20,000 feet to the nearest WD

900

500

0

-500

-1000

-1500

-2000

-2500

-3000

-3500

-4000

-4500

A’

Upper TulareZone A1,500 feet

separation

Undifferentiated Alluvium /

Tulare

Air Water Contact




ANDc) The total dissolved solids (TDS) content of the ground water is more than 3,000 and less than 10,000 mg/L, and it is not reasonably expected to supply a public water system.

Home

40 CFR 146.4(c)

• Lower Tulare Formation groundwater within the administrative boundary of Elk Hills Oil Field has TDS concentrations between 7,168 and 20,000 mg/L (Appendix 5).

• The West Kern Water District (WKWD), the local water district within the area of review, has declared that the Tulare Formation in the Elk Hills aquifer exemption area does not currently serve as a source of drinking water and will not reasonably be expected to supply a public water system (Appendix 7).

24

Meets Federal Exemption Criteria

Home25

ConstituentMean

Concentration or Range mg/l

MCLs and Regulatory

Thresholds mg/l

Threshold Exceeded? % of Threshold

Selenium (Lower Tulare) 0.720 0.05 Yes 1440%

TDS (Lower Tulare) 7,168 to 20,000 500 Yes 1434% to 4,000%

Chloride (Lower Tulare) 3,115 to 10,000 250 (recommended) Yes 1,246% to 4,000%

Sulfate (Lower Tulare) 700 to 3,200 250 (recommended) Yes 280% to 1,280%

MCLs: Maximum Contaminant LevelsExceeds Drinking Water Standards (Primary & Secondary MCL)(California State Water Resources Control Board)

G r o u n d w a t e r C o n s t i t u e n t s i n E l k H i l l s L o w e r T u l a r e

3 Water samples collected from 3 wells (Appendix 5).

Drinking Water Standards – Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs)

Home26

ConstituentMean

Concentration or Range mg/l

Regulatory Thresholds mg/l

Threshold Exceeded? % of Threshold

Boron (Lower Tulare) 5.7 to 24 6.00 Yes Up to 400%

Strontium (Lower Tulare) 4.8 to 17 4.00 Yes 120% to 425%

Sodium (Lower Tulare) 2,041 to 4,700 20.00 Yes 10,205% to 23,500%

Exceeds USEPA Drinking Water Health Advisory* EPA Action Level(US Environmental Protection Agency)

Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Health Advisory

3 Water samples collected from 3 wells (Appendix 5).


Exemption criteria as specified in PRC 3131(a),

1. Criteria set forth in Section 146.4 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

2. The injection of fluids will not affect the quality of water that is, or may reasonably be, used for

any beneficial use.

3. The injected fluid will remain in the aquifer or portion of the aquifer that would be exempted.

M e e t s S t a t e E x e m p t i o n C r i t e r i a

Home

✔

27



2. The injection of fluids will not affect the quality of water that is, or may reasonably be, used for

any beneficial use.

• The Elk Hills Lower Tulare formation groundwater is not expected to be put to beneficial use as

defined by the PRC 13050 (f), because of poor water quality in aquifer intervals located below the

Amnicola Claystone.


Home

✔

28

Home29

Untreated Lower Tulare groundwater within the Elk Hills Oil Field is unfit for Agricultural use.

Constituent Mean Concentration or Range mg/l

Degree of Restriction on Use

Nonemg/l

Slight to Moderatemg/l

Severemg/l

TDS (Lower Tulare) 7,168 to 20,000 < 450 450 to 2000 > 2000

Chloride (Lower Tulare) 3,115 to 10,000 < 142 142 to 354 > 354

Boron (Lower Tulare) 5.7 to 24 < 0.7 0.7 to 3.0 > 3.0

Sodium (Lower Tulare) 2,041 to 4,700 < 69 69 to 207 > 207

Adapted from University of California Committee of Consultants, 1974

Guidelines for Interpretation of Water Quality for Irrigation


Exemption criteria as specified in PRC 3131(a),1. Criteria set forth in Section 146.4 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

2. The injection of fluids will not affect the quality of water that is, or may reasonably be, used for any beneficial use.


• Amnicola Claystone is the vertical confining layer for the Lower Tulare.

• The injected water will remain within Elk Hills Phase 1 and 2 Tulare Formation Proposal Area.

Home30

✔

✔


• Amnicola Claystone is a regionally extensive confining layer that provides vertical containment of injected water.• Consists of silty claystone and has vertical permeability measuring less than 0.1 md from conventional core

sample (Appendix 2).• Evidence of confinement consists of the thickness, continuity, and low permeability of the Amnicola Claystone,

and the offset of the Air – Water contact below and above the Amnicola Claystone, and is further supported by the numerous gas and oil shows seen in the lower Tulare.

Home23


Phase 1

Phase 2

Exemption criteria as specified in PRC 3131(a),1. Criteria set forth in Section 146.4 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.



• Amnicola Claystone is the vertical confining layer for the Lower Tulare.

• Lateral containment is achieved through operational controls limiting the migration of injected

fluids to the Phase 1 and 2 Lower Tulare Formation Proposal Area.

Home32

✔

✔


C o n c l u s i o n







b) The total dissolved solids content of the ground water is more than 3,000 and less than 10,000 mg/l and it is not reasonably expected to supply a public water system.

✔✔

✔✔

✔

Home33

www.conservation.ca.gov

Home

Please state your name and spell it for the record.Please speak clearly so that we may accurately

record your comments.





phase 1 elk hills ae - home california department of ... exemptions...2017/10/24 · elk hills phase...

Documents