Senator Fran Pavley, representing portions of Ventura County that include Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, and Westlake Village, has introduced Senate Bill 4 to establish a comprehensive regulatory program for oil and gas well stimulation treatments (e.g., hydraulic fracturing), which includes, among other things, a study, the development of regulations, a permitting process, and public notification and disclosure.
The SB 4 analysis of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources explained that hydraulic fracturing (a.k.a. fracking) is a form of well stimulation used to obtain oil and natural gas in areas where those energy supplies are trapped in rock (i.e., shale) or sand formations. Once an oil or natural gas well is drilled and properly lined with steel casing, fluids are pumped down to an isolated portion of the well at pressures high enough to cause cracks in shale formations below the earth’s surface. These cracks or fractures allow oil and natural gas to flow more freely. Often, a propping agent such as sand is pumped into the well to keep fractures open. In many instances, the fluids used in hydraulic fracturing are water-based. There are some formations, however, that are not fractured effectively by water-based fluids because clay or other substances in the rock absorb water. For these formations, complex mixtures with a multitude of chemical additives may be used to thicken or thin the fluids, improve the flow of the fluid, or even kill bacteria that can reduce fracturing performance.
Senator Pavley noted the following rationale for the provisions in SB 4:
“Much has been written about hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” the use of pressurized water, chemicals and sand to crack shale rock and free up oil and gas. My bill, SB 4, would provide regulations, public disclosure and agency accountability to help us understand the risks and potential costs of this practice.
“Recently, we learned companies may be focusing on a different technique for stimulating production in California’s oil wells – acidization. Through this technique, well operators use highly corrosive materials such as hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid to dissolve rock and improve the flow of oil. On June 18, I led an informational hearing of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee to learn more about this technique. We heard from regulators, industry representatives and members of environmental groups, and it became clear that, as with fracking, there is much we don’t know about the risks of acidization.”
The Assembly Committee on Natural Resources analysis noted that SB 4 contains essentially all of the key elements outlined in a white paper developed in 2012 by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The committee analysis also noted that SB 4 applies to all forms of well stimulation (such as acid well stimulation treatment), and not just hydraulic fracturing.
Currently, Senate Bill 4 has been re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. The long list of supporters includes the Alameda County Water District, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the Nature Conservancy. The long list of those in opposition includes the American Chemistry Council, the California Independent Petroleum Association, and the Sierra Club California.
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