Remediation of Residential Redevelopment Site

EKI supported BlackRock Investments (BlackRock) with site investigation and remediation services at the Cielo Vista site in Yorba Linda, California. BlackRock sought to transition the project to a new residential developer.

The primary concerns at the site centered around five inactive oil production wells, and the re-abandonment of a sixth oil production well. The sixth well was tested by the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) for leaks, and it failed the initial leak test, so re-abandonment was required.

EKI conducted soil and soil vapor sampling at the site where the oil wells were located. EKI performed the following additional services:

• Interfaced with the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) for workplan development and approval, fieldwork observations, data discussions, additional data requests, and approval of site remediation reports. This project was a “voluntary cleanup” through OCHCA; all workplans were approved by OCHCA before initiation, except the oil well abandonment, which was approved by CalGEM.
• Worked directly with California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) regarding the abandonment of five inactive oil production wells, and the re‑abandonment of a sixth oil production well.
• Evaluated potential environmental concerns, performed soil and soil gas investigations adjacent to each production well.
• Prepared a technical application for regulatory oversight of the property’s environmental issues and planned redevelopment.
• Identified and coordinated removal of oil well infrastructure at each wellhead consisting of pump jacks, oil well cellar and oil and production pipelines;
• Coordinated excavation of impacted soils identified near the production wellheads.
• Assisted Client throughout project and provided technical documents for negotiations with new buyer of the project;
• Assisted with planning and preparation for environmental aspects of facility closure and Soil Management Plan and Soil Relocation Plan implementation;

Outcome

Following re-abandonment of the sixth oil well, a leak test and surface plug inspection were performed and successfully passed. Vent cones were installed on each of the six wells after CalGEM approved the well abandonment for each well. EKI supported BlackRock as they transitioned the project to a new developer in 2021.