KERN COUNTY, Calif. — Chevron has been penalized more than $2.7 million penalty by California oil and gas regulators for violations regarding the Cymric Oil Field in Kern County.
In July, Governor Gavin Newsom toured the Cymric Oil Field site , where Chevron officials said more than 900,000 gallons of oil and water flowed to the surface following a spill that took place back in May.
The State of California Natural Resources Agency Department of Conservation Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources stated that they fined Chevron after they observed the Cymric field had been the site of several “surface expressions” – water, steam and oil forced to the surface, on four desperate occasions between the May 10 and July 22 . According to DOGGR officials, surface expressions became illegal under new regulations adopted by the department on April 1.
According to officials, Chevron was penalized for:
- The extent of harm caused. The order says the surface expressions created “a significant threat of harm to human health and the environment.”
- The pervasiveness of the violations. As of August 1, oil from the four surface expressions flowed into 41,947 square-feet of a dry streambed.
- Ensuring the operator does not realize any economic benefit because of the violations. The order estimates the total fluids recovered from the surface expressions at Cymric enabled Chevron to sell about 7,129 barrels of oil, with an estimated economic benefit of approximately $399,231 from the incident.
You can read the full report from DOGGR below:
