Huasna Valley oil exploration in the 19th Century:
⇒ Oil production began in the Santa Maria Valley with small crews of explorers
who moved their search north to the Huasna Valley.
⇒ Without extensive tools and technology, wells were hand drilled.
⇒ Explorers were hoping that they would find free-flowing oil reserves
for
easy extraction.
Expansion of exploration efforts in the Huasna Valley during the
20th Century:
⇒ The majority of exploration took place within the eastern and western
hills
bordering the valley with some exploration of the valley floor extending
from Porter Ranch to Tar Springs Ranch.
⇒ The California Department of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR)
estimated that approximately 52 wells were drilled in the Huasna Valley
during the 20th Century.
⇒ The current site on Mankins' Ranch had limited commercial production
in
the 1960-1980’s. Due to the sharp decline in oil prices in the early 80’s,
production was halted and the site was left idle.
⇒ Subsequently, the long-term idle status allowed DOGGR to list the wells
as
orphaned and established the need for proper abandonment.
Excelaron proposes to explore the designated oil field on Mankins'
Ranch:
⇒ The proposed site is within the hills bordering the west side of the
Huasna
Valley.
⇒ The proposed site is an existing DOGGR designated oil field which
encompasses the Meridian Anticline geological structure.
⇒ Seven wells have been drilled in previously limited exploration of the
Meridian anticline with the last new wells drilled in the 1960’s.
⇒ In conjunction with Excelaron’s proposed exploration project, DOGGR
has
commissioned a contractor to properly plug and abandon the orphaned
wells and clean up portions of the abandoned equipment currently on
the site.
⇒ Using advanced modern technology, Excelaron will explore the existing
oil
field by drilling new wells into the Meridian Anticline.