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
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
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
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
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
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Approx. 27 Miles southwest of Central Bakersfield
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Elk Hills
Buena Vista
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Bakersfield
L o c a t i o n
I-5
L o c a t i o n 1973 Productive Areas
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0 1 2miles
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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
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0 1 2miles
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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
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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
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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
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UP
PER
TU
LAR
E
PLE
ISTO
CEN
E
TULA
RE
FOR
MAT
ION Sand-rich layer
~75 feet of Claystone (Seal)
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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
Phase 2 Lower Tulare Proposal
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
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Amnicola Claystone
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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
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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’
Phase 1 Lower Tulare ProposalArea outside and not included in Phase 1 Lower Tulare Proposal
Exempted
Horizontal scale
San Joaquin Formation and older
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
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1400
1000
500
0
-500
-1000
-1500
Asphalto Exemption Area
Tulare Clay Air Water Contact
5X vertical exaggeration
San Joaquin Formation and older
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
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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
5X vertical exaggeration
0 4000 feet
Horizontal scale
San Joaquin Formation and older
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.
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Federal Exemption Criteria
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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 mg/L, and it is not reasonably expected to supply a public water system.
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Federal Exemption Criteria
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40 CFR 146.4(a)
Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4
a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water
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40 CFR 146.4(a)
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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
Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4
a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water.
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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
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Meets Federal Exemption Criteria
Approximate Water Well Location (GEOTRACKER GAMA)
0 3
N
Water Wells Review Area
miles
D’
Phase 1 Lower Tulare Proposal
D
Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4,
a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water.
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40 CFR 146.4(a)
Water Wells Completion Zone in the Review Area
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1000
500
0
-500
-1000
-1500
-2000
-2500
-3000
-3500
D D’
5,846 ppm TDS(KCWA, 1994)
Water Wells
Phase 1 Lower Tulare ProposalArea outside and not included in Phase 1 Lower Tulare Proposal
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
Federal Exemption Criteria–Phase 1
Upper Tulare Zone B
Upper Tulare Zone B
Lower Tulare
Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4,
a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water
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40 CFR 146.4(a)
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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)
Federal Exemption Criteria–Phase 2
Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4
a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water.
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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
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Water Wells Review Area
71 Water Wells
0 5000 feet
Phase 2 AE Proposal
Elk Hills
saA
A’
Phase 2 AE Proposal
Elk Hills
Water Wells Review Area
0 1 2miles
Federal Exemption Criteria–Phase 2
105 Water Wells
Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4
a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water.
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40 CFR 146.4(a)
Water Wells Completion Zone in the Review Area
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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
2X vertical exaggeration
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
Federal Exemption Criteria–Phase 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 mg/L, and it is not reasonably expected to supply a public water system.
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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).
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Meets Federal Exemption Criteria
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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)
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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).
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
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
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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.
• 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.
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
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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
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
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.
• 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.
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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
• 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.
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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
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.
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.
• 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.
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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
C o n c l u s i o n
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.
Exemption criteria as specified in 40 CFR 146.4,
a) The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water.
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.
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www.conservation.ca.gov
Home
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
Please state your name and spell it for the record.Please speak clearly so that we may accurately
record your comments.
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