-- The US Department of the Interior on Wednesday released a final environmental review of a proposal to restart well stimulation, including hydraulic fracturing, at an aging oil platform off the coast of Southern California.
The review, conducted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, covers potential environmental impacts of treatments on up to 16 existing wells at Platform Gilda, located in federal waters off Ventura County in the Santa Barbara Channel.
The work forms part of an update to the operator's Development and Production Plan for the platform, which has been in operation since 1981.
BOEM said publication of the final environmental impact statement does not constitute approval of the proposed activities. The agency is expected to issue a separate record of decision after completing its review of environmental and other relevant considerations.
Platform Gilda, operating under Outer Continental Shelf Lease No. P0216 is located about 8.8 miles or 14 kilometers southwest of Ventura, California, in waters about 205 feet deep.
The platform, which was installed in 1981, has remained in continuous operation since then.