Ask TBC: What's the latest on that secret oil discovery?
| Sunday, Dec 13 2009 01:15 PM
Last Updated Sunday, Dec 13 2009 01:45 PM
Q: Last summer you reported that an oil company had found a previously undiscovered oilfield and that it was one of the biggest in the state. They never said where it was and there didn't seem to be a follow-up.
I wondered if it was true, and if maybe they announced that so the executives could drive up the stock price then dump it. Any news on that?
- Charlie Blanton
A: Occidental Petroleum Corp. announced July 23 that it had discovered the equivalent of 150 to 250 million barrels of oil in Kern County. The company never did say where the discovery lies -- nor under state regulations did it have to.
The discovery would appear to be real: In late October Oxy reported producing about 105 million cubic feet of gas and 8,500 barrels of liquids per day from 10 wells, with 11 more wells set to be drilled by year's end.
Normally the location of such findings is a matter of public record. But in cases of "extenuating circumstances," the state Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources is allowed to keep that information confidential for up to four years -- and potentially longer if a DOGGR director deems it necessary after a 30-day public notice and comment period.
Oxy President and Chief Financial Officer Steven Chazen is content to keep the location quiet, partly because others "might" own acreage nearby that the company may want to acquire.
"The exact location and the methodology of the find is obviously proprietary," Chazen said, according to a recent e-mail from Oxy spokeswoman Susie Geiger. "We are not interested in giving it to someone else."
Q: The traffic light recently installed on Panorama Drive and Meadow Vista needs someone's attention.
It seems to be on a timer rather than a sensor. The red signal brings traffic on Panorama to a halt with NO car in sight on either side of Meadow Vista. More times than not, after cars have obeyed the red signal, they proceed on red as there is no reason for the light to have turned red for Panorama traffic.
What can be done to improve the flow of traffic on Panorama and eliminate honest people from proceeding through a red light?
- Darlyn Baker
A: City traffic engineer Ryan Starbuck responded:
At the intersection of Panorama Drive and Meadow Vista, Panorama Drive is given priority for vehicle flow. Due to the small size of this intersection, however, this signal operates on a "split-phase" timing pattern. Since there is no room to install dedicated left-hand turn lanes on Panorama Drive without removing parking in front of nearby homes, this signal must operate in this manner.
A "split-phase" timing pattern allows the through vehicles and turning movements in one direction on Panorama to go while all other vehicles at the intersection wait.
Then, the through vehicles and turning movements in the opposite direction on Panorama get their turn. The signal only turns green for Meadow Vista when a vehicle is on the side street waiting to go.
Q: I've seen this on California Avenue in Bakersfield and on Main Street in Lamont: Cars are being stopped and pulled over, put up on a machine and their tires run -- as if they're being smog-checked. A California Highway Patrol officer is there, too. What is this activity?
- Matt Falkenberg
A: That's the California Bureau of Automotive Repair conducting a roadside vehicle emissions survey. The agency's Web site has a good explanation:
The survey's purpose is to provide a "real world" profile of emissions from California's cars and trucks. The data is used to help measure California's Smog Check program by determining statewide emissions levels and monitoring those levels over time. It's also necessary to demonstrate to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that California's Smog Check program meets federal emissions reduction requirements for ozone-forming pollution generated by motor vehicles. The study also evaluates various emissions testing procedures.
The study is conducted in phases by four teams, who together visit more than 300 locations every year.
At each site, one lane of traffic is coned off for testing equipment. A CHP officer directs randomly selected vehicles to that lane.
Motorists whose vehicles are selected for testing are greeted by a BAR representative who informs them of the survey purpose and answers questions. Although participation is not mandatory, it is critical to the success of the survey.
The emissions survey tests vehicles on a treadmill-like device called a dynamometer that is now being used to conduct Smog Check inspections in the state's smoggiest regions. By simulating driving conditions, dynamometers provide the most accurate emissions readings for hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
Vehicles are tested solely for the purpose of gathering data. They do not "pass" or "fail" the roadside emissions tests, so these tests add no additional repair requirements for drivers of high-polluting vehicles. The procedure usually lasts less than 10 minutes.
Ask The Californian appears on Mondays and Thursdays. Submit questions to asktbc@bakersfield.com or to The Bakersfield Californian, c/o Christine Bedell, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302.