(WO) – U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has directed Sable Offshore Corp. to restore operations at the Santa Ynez Unit and the associated Santa Ynez Pipeline System offshore California, citing energy supply security concerns.
The order, issued under authorities provided by the Defense Production Act, calls for the restart of offshore production and pipeline transportation infrastructure to help strengthen domestic crude supply on the U.S. West Coast.
According to the Department of Energy, the Santa Ynez Unit has the capacity to produce approximately 50,000 bpd of crude oil. Restoring production could increase California’s in-state oil output by roughly 15% and offset as much as 1.5 MMbbl of imported crude each month.
“The Trump Administration remains committed to putting all Americans and their energy security first,” Wright said in a statement. “Today’s order will strengthen America’s oil supply and restore a pipeline system vital to our national security and defense, ensuring that West Coast military installations have the reliable energy critical to military readiness.”
The directive also prioritizes pipeline transportation capacity to move offshore crude through the Las Flores Pipeline System to Pentland Station and into interstate pipelines serving regional refineries.
California currently imports more than 60% of the crude processed at its refineries. State officials say the region’s limited connection to interstate crude pipeline networks has increased reliance on overseas imports to meet refining demand.
Sable Offshore operates the Santa Ynez Unit offshore Santa Barbara County and currently employs more than 100 workers and approximately 400 contractors in the region.
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