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Project 101
What is Sable Offshore?
Sable Offshore Corp. (Sable) is an independent oil and gas company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, focused on responsibly developing the prolific Santa Ynez Unit. In February 2024, Sable acquired the Santa Ynez Unit assets from ExxonMobil and took over operations of the Las Flores Pipeline system from the previous operator, leveraging its experienced team to ensure efficient and sustainable operations
What is the Santa Ynez Unit?
The Santa Ynez Unit consists of three offshore oil platforms—Hondo, Harmony, and Heritage—that produce crude oil and natural gas off the coast of Santa Barbara, along with an onshore processing facility located in Las Flores Canyon. Situated 5 to 9 miles offshore in federal waters, these platforms service 112 wells, including 90 producers, 12 injectors, and 10 idle wells.
When does Sable plan to restart operations of the Santa Ynez Unit and Las Flores Pipeline?
The timeline for restarting operations is governed by the federal consent decree and the fulfillment of all regulatory requirements. Sable is actively working with state and federal agencies to meet these goals and is committed to ensuring that every necessary upgrade and safety measure is in place prior to restart. Once these measures are completed, and after successful testing and inspection, operations at the Santa Ynez Unit and Las Flores Pipeline will resume.
What percentage of in-state oil production will be provided?
Once operational, the Santa Ynez Unit will stabilize the supply of crude oil into the California market, ultimately representing approximately 10-20% of in-state production.
Why is restarting operations essential to California’s energy security?
The Santa Ynez Unit will provide a secure, consistent source of domestic crude oil, replacing approximately 1 million barrels per month of imports. This dependable, lower carbon, local supply will reduce California’s reliance on foreign oil and play a key role in enhancing our state’s energy security and independence.
Environmental Responsibility
How will resuming operations reduce carbon intensity?
Resuming operations will reduce the need for oil tanker traffic off California’s coast by replacing approximately 1 million barrels per month of foreign crude oil imports with local production. This reduction in long-distance marine transportation can lower carbon intensity by up to 75% compared to current import methods.
What environmental safeguards are in place?
Sable maintains robust environmental safeguards starting with comprehensive employee training across four key areas: safety training for oil and gas-specific practices, operations and maintenance training covering environmental compliance and technical operations, specialized regulatory/environmental training on permit conditions, and emergency response training through Oil Spill Response Plan exercises. This proactive training program is reinforced by oversight at every governmental level, as demonstrated in 2024 emergency response drills at the local level by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, at the state level by California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and California State Lands Commission, and at the federal level by the U.S. Coast Guard and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
Safety
How is Sable ensuring the safety of its operations?
Sable’s team has an excellent safety record, is very familiar with the facilities, understands the operating requirements for these facilities, and is trained and ready to respond to any incident as exemplified by recent successful response drills. The pipeline integrity and safe operation are also overseen by both California regulators at the Office of the State Fire Marshal and federal regulators at Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The company’s safety measures exceed agencies’ regulatory requirements and include:
- 24/7 pipeline monitoring with enhanced leak detection
- 27 new emergency shutoff devices installed on the Las Flores Pipeline System
- Regular emergency response drills with state and federal oversight
- Strategically located response teams and equipment for rapid deployment in the event of an incident
- Integrity inspections conducted 10 times more often than regulatory requirements
- Extensive employee safety training programs
What safety improvements has Sable made to the Las Flores Pipeline System?
Sable is committed to world class quality and safety. The company has completed or will complete extensive upgrades to ensure the Las Flores Pipeline System meets or exceeds industry standards, including 24/7 monitoring, automatic shutoff valves, enhanced leak detection and other safety measures that go beyond regulatory requirements. Prior to restart, Sable will conduct a hydrostatic pressure test of the entire Las Flores Pipeline System to confirm its repair campaign has restored the pipeline to “as new” condition.
Does Sable conduct emergency response drills?
The company recently conducted emergency response drills under federal and state agency supervision and will continue to regularly conduct drills as part of our commitment to transparent engagement with regulators including the Office of the State Fire Marshal, California Coastal Commission, and Santa Barbara County.
Economic Impact
How many jobs will Sable create in Santa Barbara County?
Sable employs over 100 staff and 400 contractors today. Once the pipeline restarts operations, an estimated 300 additional employees will be hired.
How much tax revenue will Sable generate for the local community?
Bringing the Santa Ynez Unit and Las Flores Pipeline System back online is expected to generate an estimated $5 million a year in tax revenue for Santa Barbara County.
How does Sable support local organizations?
Sable currently provides annual community investments in local organizations, with a focus on educational and business-oriented programs. This support is expected to dramatically increase once pipeline production is restarted.
Sable proudly supports the Santa Maria Police Officers Association, Santa Barbara County Firefighters Benevolent Foundation, Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and Echo Group Band of Brothers, among others.
Company Background
Who comprises Sable’s leadership team?
Sable’s management team averages three decades of experience operating oil and gas facilities in Santa Barbara and California. Sable Chairman and CEO James Flores has more than 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council and was recognized as Executive of the Year by Oil and Gas Investor magazine in 2004.
Their expertise is validated by numerous industry accolades, including U.S. Bureau of Land Management Operator of the Year (2006), multiple California Department of Conservation Environmental Lease Maintenance Awards (2004-2008), and Santa Barbara County commendations for Outstanding Maintenance Practices and “Resolution for Good Operator.”
How many employees does Sable currently have in Santa Barbara?
Sable’s workforce in Santa Barbara consists of over 100 staff and 400 contractors. Each employee has an average of 20 years of experience in oil and gas.