U .S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has directed Sable Offshore Corp., Houston, to restore operations at the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline System, citing concerns over fuel supply reliability and national security.
The March 13 order was issued under the Defense Production Act and related executive authorities, directing the company to bring the offshore production and pipeline system back online to support domestic energy supply, including fuel availability for West Coast military installations.
“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,” Wright said.
According to the Department of Energy, the Santa Ynez Unit has the capacity to produce approximately 50,000 barrels of oil per day. The agency said that level of output would represent about a 15% increase in California’s in-state oil production and could offset roughly 1.5 million barrels of imported crude each month.
The directive also prioritizes use of pipeline infrastructure to move offshore California crude through the Las Flores Pipeline System to Pentland Station and into interstate pipeline networks. Federal officials said the goal is to improve distribution efficiency and reduce reliance on foreign oil supplies.
California currently imports more than 60% of the crude oil refined in the state, according to DOE figures. The department noted that some of those imports transit through geopolitically sensitive regions, including the Strait of Hormuz.
Sable Offshore’s operations in Santa Barbara County currently support more than 100 employees and about 400 contractors. Federal officials said restoring the Santa Ynez Unit and associated pipeline system is expected to generate additional jobs and local economic activity.
The order reflects a broader federal push to expand domestic energy production and infrastructure capacity, particularly in regions with limited pipeline connectivity to the U.S. crude network.
