A total of 93 emergency seep cans were installed last year at Pacific Coast Energy Company’s (PCEC) 96-well oil site — which uses cyclic steam injection, an extraction process approved for PCEC’s neighbor, Santa Maria Energy — and emergency permits for seven cans were discussed by the supervisors on 2/11. Supervisor Doreen Farr took issue with the extra cans — which prevent seeps from becoming spills — given the company’s assurance it was taking action to stave off most new seeps and that cyclic steam injection is known to exacerbate naturally occurring seeps. PCEC recently applied for 96 additional cyclic steam wells.
