Chevron Dismantles Former Carpinteria Oil Processing Facility

Chevron has entered the next phase of decommissioning its former Carpinteria oil and gas processing facility, including the removal of nearshore pipelines as part of a multi-year cleanup effort.

(P&GJ) — Chevron has begun another phase of its multi-year effort to dismantle its former oil and gas processing complex in Carpinteria, California, with work now shifting toward the removal of nearshore pipelines and related infrastructure, according to KEYT.

The decommissioning program is expected to take about three years and includes dismantling the closed processing facility, removing pipelines near the Carpinteria Bluffs and restoring the 55-acre property.

Chevron has already demolished one of the site's most visible structures, the approximately 50-foot-tall Tank 861. The steel from the tank is being recycled as part of the project.

Pipeline removal is expected to become one of the most visible stages of the work in the coming months. The project has undergone regulatory review by local agencies and the California Coastal Commission before construction activities began.

The work area borders environmentally and culturally sensitive locations, including the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary and areas with potential Chumash cultural resources. As reported by KEYT, portions of the decommissioning have also crossed the Union Pacific rail corridor.

The former Carpinteria Oil and Gas Processing Facility historically supported production from multiple offshore platforms, including Hope, Heidi, Hazel and Hilda, as well as production from the Outer Continental Shelf through Platforms Gail and Grace. The site also includes the Casitas Pier, which was built to support offshore oil and gas operations.