The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released a final environmental impact statement (EIS) evaluating a proposal by DCOR LLC, Oxnard, Calif., to conduct well stimulation treatments — including hydraulic fracturing — on Platform Gilda, located on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf offshore Ventura County, Calif.
The EIS analyzes potential environmental impacts of authorizing proposed treatments on up to 16 existing wells — four in the Upper Repetto formation and 12 in the Lower Repetto — as part of the operator's updated development and production plan. Fracturing would take place at depths greater than 4,500' below the seafloor.
Platform Gilda operates under Outer Continental Shelf Lease No. P0216 and sits approximately 8.8 miles southwest of Ventura in the Santa Barbara Channel. The platform was installed in 1981 in roughly 205' of water and has been in continuous operation since.
Hydraulic fracturing was previously conducted in the Santa Clara Unit, which includes Platform Gilda, between 1986 and 2014.
Under the new proposal, all flowback fluids would be retained on the platform and reinjected into existing injection wells. The program is planned over a five-year period, with up to six wells stimulated per year during active periods of approximately 14 days annually.
The EIS document was prepared in 28 days from publication of the Notice of Intent under the Department of the Interior's Alternative Arrangements for NEPA Compliance During a National Energy Emergency, responding to President Trump's January 2025 national energy emergency declaration. It incorporates technical review by BOEM subject matter experts and was shaped by public input on the scope of the analysis.
"Gold Standard Science and transparency guide every decision we make," said BOEM Acting Director Matt Giacona. "This final environmental impact statement represents a science-based evaluation that reflects the contributions of tribes, partners, and community members who engaged in this process. Our responsibility is to ensure that any proposed offshore activity is reviewed thoroughly, consistently, and with a clear commitment to environmental protection."
The final EIS does not approve or authorize any of the proposed activities. BOEM will issue a separate record of decision after reviewing the environmental and other relevant information, the agency said.
