Notice2026-05319
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on Platform Gilda Well Stimulation Treatment
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Published
March 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
Consistent with the U.S. Department of the Interior (Department or DOI) regulations and handbook implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and DOI's alternative arrangements to comply with NEPA during a national emergency, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider the impacts of DCOR, L.L.C.'s (DCOR) proposal to supplement its existing approved Development and Production Plan (DPP). The proposed supplemental DPP details information and procedures for proposed Well Stimulation Treatments (WST), including hydraulic fracturing, for Platform Gilda, which is offshore Ventura, California. This NOI serves to announce the scoping process BOEM will use to identify significant issues and potential alternatives for consideration in the Platform Gilda Well Stimulation Treatment Environmental Impact Statement (WST EIS) (Unique Identification Number DOI-BOEM-PC-2026-0003-EIS). The supplemental DPP considers hydraulic fracturing of up to 16 existing wells to increase reservoir permeability in order to optimize hydrocarbon recovery.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13063-13066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05319]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2025-0714]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on
Platform Gilda Well Stimulation Treatment
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement;
request for comments.
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SUMMARY: Consistent with the U.S. Department of the Interior
(Department or DOI) regulations and handbook implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and DOI's alternative arrangements to
comply with NEPA during a national emergency, the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management (BOEM) announces its intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider the impacts of DCOR,
L.L.C.'s (DCOR) proposal to supplement its existing approved
Development and Production Plan (DPP). The proposed supplemental DPP
details information and procedures for proposed Well Stimulation
Treatments (WST), including hydraulic fracturing, for Platform Gilda,
which is offshore Ventura, California. This NOI serves to announce the
scoping process BOEM will use to identify significant
[[Page 13064]]
issues and potential alternatives for consideration in the Platform
Gilda Well Stimulation Treatment Environmental Impact Statement (WST
EIS) (Unique Identification Number DOI-BOEM-PC-2026-0003-EIS). The
supplemental DPP considers hydraulic fracturing of up to 16 existing
wells to increase reservoir permeability in order to optimize
hydrocarbon recovery.
DATES: BOEM will consider comments from all interested parties,
including Tribes, Federal, State, and local governments, and the
general public. Written comments must be submitted by March 30, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Information regarding the scoping process for the EIS is
available on the BOEM website at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/GildaWST">https://www.boem.gov/GildaWST</a>.
Written comments can be submitted through the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> web
portal: Navigate to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket
BOEM-2025-0714, or ``Platform Gilda Well Stimulation Treatment
Environmental Impact Statement'', and click on the ``Comment'' button.
Enter your information and comment, and then click ``Submit.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Platform Gilda
Well Stimulation Treatment Environmental Impact Statement, the
submission of comments, or BOEM's policies associated with this notice,
please contact Susan Zaleski, Acting Regional Supervisor, Office of
Environment, BOEM, Pacific OCS Region,760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102,
Camarillo, CA 93010, (805) 384-6328 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f1f2e2c2629262c1d2a28262021610a2139263d2021222a213b0f2d202a2261282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="441425272d222d271621232d2b2a6a012a322d362b2a29212a3004262b21296a232b32">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Platform Gilda (Lease number OCS P-0216) is
located on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (POCS), approximately
nine miles southwest of Ventura, California in the Santa Barbara
Channel and lies within the Santa Clara Unit of federal OCS leases. The
platform was installed in 1981 in approximately 205 feet of water and
has operated continuously since its installation. The original DPP and
Environmental Report were prepared by Union Oil Company of California
in November 1979 and approved by BOEM's predecessor, the U.S.
Geological Survey, in December 1980. An update to the DPP was submitted
in October 1985 and approved in July 1986. More information is
available on the BOEM website at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/regions/pacific-ocs-region/oil-gas/development-and-production-plans-pacific">https://www.boem.gov/regions/pacific-ocs-region/oil-gas/development-and-production-plans-pacific</a>.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to enhance the recovery of
petroleum and gas from an existing oil platform on the POCS, beyond
that which could be recovered without the use of WSTs.
The need for the proposed action is to further the conservation and
orderly development of OCS oil and gas resources in accordance with the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 (OCSLA), as amended (43
United States Code [U.S.C.] 1331 et seq.) through the efficient
recovery of oil and gas reserves from the POCS. The enhancement of
resource extraction from an existing platform using existing
infrastructure avoids the impacts of new development activities or
infrastructure. Oil serves as the feedstock for a variety of liquid
hydrocarbon products, among them transportation fuels and various
petrochemicals. Natural gas is generally considered an environmentally
preferable alternative to other fossil fuels to generate electricity or
for residential and industrial heating, and is an important feedstock
for manufacturing fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and
packaging.
Proposed Action and Preliminary Alternatives
The Proposed Action (Alternative A and the agency Preferred
Alternative) evaluated in this EIS is to approve the proposed
supplemental DPP to allow the use of WSTs.
Under Alternative A, DCOR would be authorized to conduct hydraulic
fracturing of up to 16 existing wells on Platform Gilda. This action is
intended to improve hydrocarbon recovery from low-permeability zones by
increasing effective reservoir permeability and bypassing near-wellbore
formation damage. Permeability is a measure of a rock's ability to
allow fluids to flow through it--low permeability rocks restrict fluid
flow. Hydraulic fracturing creates artificial channels (fractures) or
enlarges flow pathways through which the fluid can flow.
Platform Gilda produces from three different geologic formations.
These include the Pico, Repetto, and the Monterey. The Repetto
formation is the target of the WST program because it is a low-
permeability geological formation, making it suitable for well
stimulation. Reservoir simulation studies and recent geologic
interpretation have identified four well stimulation target locations
in the Upper Repetto and 12 well stimulation target locations in the
Lower Repetto, for a total of 16 locations. Each treatment will be
preceded by a Diagnostic Fracture Injection Test (DFIT) to collect
formation-specific pressure and fracture gradient data. This
information is used to calibrate stimulation designs using reservoir
modeling software. Hydraulic fracturing works by injecting fluids at
high pressure into the target formation to create narrow, controlled
fractures in the rock. Once the fractures are initiated, a proppant--
typically sand or ceramic spheres--is carried into the formation by the
fracturing fluid. The proppant remains in the fractures after pressure
is released, holding them open to maintain improved flow paths for
hydrocarbons.
In total, the full stimulation program may include up to 38
treatment stages distributed across 16 wells, with each Upper Repetto
well expected to require 2 stages, and each Lower Repetto well expected
to require 2.5 stages on average. Each stage is expected to take 6
hours from start to finish. Of this, 4 hours are dedicated to active
pumping operations, and 2 hours of ``standby'' for engineering analysis
and final redesign. It is anticipated that up to 6 wells could be
stimulated per year, depending on operational logistics, permitting
timelines, and equipment availability.
The base fluid for all treatments will be filtered seawater sourced
from the surrounding marine environment using Platform Gilda's existing
seawater pumps. All flowback fluid generated during stimulation
activities will be routed through a closed-loop handling system and
retained on the Platform. Returned stimulation fluids will be re-
injected into existing injection wells on the Platform. No offshore
discharge of flowback fluids will occur. Solid waste, such as residual
sand or other materials, will be separated and contained for transport
to a licensed onshore disposal facility. All liquid waste will be
disposed of in accordance with the platform's currently approved
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
In this EIS, BOEM expects to consider the Proposed Action and a No
Action Alternative (Alternative B).
Under Alternative B, the use of WSTs from Platform Gilda would not
be approved, potentially reducing the amount of petroleum and gas
recovered from existing wells on the POCS, beyond that which could be
recovered without the use of WSTs. Without the use of WSTs, overall
production from the existing platform Gilda is likely to be reduced
absent any additional recovery measures. At the same time, if energy
demand continues at current levels or increases, the No Action
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Alternative could increase the need for development of other sources of
energy.
Several alternatives were considered but not carried forward for
analysis in this EIS because they are not applicable to the conditions
and geological formations described in the Proposed Action or are
technically infeasible. These include:
<bullet> Implosive/explosive fracturing--Pressure pulses in the
wellbore from explosives. This process has generally fallen out of
favor due to variable results and has been replaced by hydraulic
fracturing. These uncertainties include potential wellbore damage, the
creation of short fractures, and safety concern with handling
explosives.
<bullet> Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques, including waterflood,
gas injection (CO2), and chemical flooding (the use of polymers and
surfactants to modify fluid properties, improved sweep efficiency,
reduced surface tension between oil and water). All of these techniques
are context dependent, meaning they can be used only when appropriate
based on reservoir mineralogy, fluid properties, and company
objectives. Other techniques, such as acidizing, are only effective in
carbonate reservoirs (while the Upper and Lower Repetto are clastic
reservoirs). Thermal recovery methods are suitable for heavy oil and
bitumen, whereas the higher range oil gravity present within the
Repetto reservoirs can be produced without additional heating.
Summary of Potential Impacts
Potential impacts to resources may include impacts on air quality;
water quality; geologic resources/seismicity; benthic communities and
habitats; fishes and invertebrates; marine and coastal birds; marine
mammals and sea turtles; economic factors; and cultural, historical,
and archaeological resources. These potential impacts will be analyzed
in the Platform Gilda WST EIS.
Based on a preliminary evaluation of these resources, BOEM expects
potential impacts on the resources listed above from routine air
emissions, discharges and wastes, vessel traffic, noise, and lighting.
Additional impacts may occur from accidental events, such as
unintentional releases into the environment, response activities, or
vessel strikes and collisions.
On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump declared a national
energy emergency and directed the heads of executive departments and
agencies, including the Secretary of the Interior, to ``identify and
exercise any lawful emergency authorities available to them, as well as
all other lawful authorities they may possess, to facilitate the
identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining,
and generation of domestic energy resources, including, but not limited
to, on Federal lands'' (Sec. 2(a), Executive Order (E.O.) 14156,
``Declaring a National Energy Emergency''). The definition of energy
resources includes ``crude oil, natural gas, lease condensates, natural
gas liquids, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal, biofuels,
geothermal heat, the kinetic movement of flowing water, and critical
minerals, as defined by 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3)'' (Sec. 8(a), E.O. 14156).
During an emergency, a Department of the Interior (Department)
Responsible Official--which includes the Acting Assistant Secretary,
Land and Minerals Management, can adopt alternative arrangements to
comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before taking
urgently needed actions (43 CFR 46.150). On the April 23, 2025, the
Department published the ``Alternative Arrangements NEPA During
National Energy Emergency.''
In accordance with these alternative arrangements, BOEM will
complete this EIS process within approximately 28 days. Public comments
on preparation of the Platform Gilda WST EIS will be accepted during a
10-day scoping comment period. After the Platform Gilda WST EIS is
completed, BOEM will make the EIS available on its website and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency will publish a notice of availability.
A decision on whether and under what circumstances to approve the
supplemental DPP will be announced in a Record of Decision, as
appropriate.
Scoping Process
This NOI does not announce a decision to approve activities but
serves to commence the information gathering process for identifying
issues and potential alternatives for consideration in the DCOR WST
EIS. Comments received during the scoping period will inform the scope
and content of the WST EIS. Throughout the scoping process, Tribal,
Federal, State, and local governments, and the general public have the
opportunity to provide input to BOEM in determining significant
resources, issues, reasonable alternatives, and potential mitigation
measures to be analyzed in the EIS, and to provide additional
information. BOEM will consider additional information, alternatives
and/or mitigation suggestions identified during the comment period
initiated by this NOI in the preparation of the WST EIS.
Cooperating Agencies
BOEM, as the lead agency, invites qualified government entities,
such as Federally Recognized Tribes, other Federal agencies, and State
and local governments, to consider becoming cooperating agencies for
the preparation of the Platform Gilda WST EIS. Following the guidelines
in Section 1.7 of the DOI NEPA Handbook and DOI's NEPA implementing
regulations at 43 CFR part 46, qualified agencies and governments are
those with ``jurisdiction by law or special expertise.'' Potential
cooperating agencies should consider their authority and capacity to
assume the responsibilities of a cooperating agency under a 28-day
timeline for EIS development and remember that an agency's role in the
environmental analysis neither enlarges nor diminishes the final
decision-making authority of any other agency involved in the NEPA
process. Upon request, BOEM will provide potential cooperating agencies
with a written summary of guidelines for cooperating agencies,
including time schedules, responsibilities, scope and detail of
cooperating agencies' contributions, and availability of pre-decisional
information. BOEM anticipates this summary will form the basis for a
Memorandum of Understanding between BOEM and any cooperating agency.
BOEM, as the lead agency, will not provide financial assistance to
cooperating agencies. For additional information about cooperating
agencies, please contact Susan Zaleski, Acting Regional Supervisor,
Office of Environment, BOEM (805-384-6328) or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1f6c6a6c7e7131657e737a6c74765f7d707a7231787069"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="12616761737c3c68737e7761797b52707d777f3c757d64">[email protected]</span></a>.
Request for Comments
All interested parties, including Tribes, Federal, State, and local
governments, and the general public, may submit written comments on the
scope of the Platform Gilda WST EIS, significant issues, reasonable
alternatives, potential mitigation measures, and the types of oil and
gas activities of interest in the proposed lease sale areas. Federally
recognized tribal nations wishing to comment may choose when and how to
convey their input, including through the comment process described
here, and they may also choose to request government-to-government
consultation.
Comments that you submit in response to this NOI are a matter of
public record. You should be aware that your entire comment--including
your
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address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable
information included in your comment--may be made publicly available at
any time. Even if BOEM withholds your personally identifiable
information in the context of this NOI, your comment is subject to the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552). Your information will
only be withheld if a determination is made that one of the FOIA
exemptions to disclosure applies. Such a determination will be made in
accordance with the Department's FOIA implementing regulations (43 CFR
part 2) and applicable laws.
In order for BOEM to consider withholding from disclosure your
personally identifiable information, you must identify, in a cover
letter, any information contained in the submittal of your comments
that, if released, would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
your personal privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible
harmful consequences of the disclosure of information, such as
embarrassment, injury, or other harm. Note that BOEM will make
available for public inspection, in their entirety, all comments
submitted by organizations and businesses, or by individuals
identifying themselves as representatives of organizations or
businesses.
Authority: This NOI is published pursuant to DOI's regulations (43
CFR part 46) implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA, as amended
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Matthew Giacona,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2026-05319 Filed 3-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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