[CINC] Condor Veneco Oil Seep Trip

[TARA BROWN]

100 common dolphin
Lots of sea lions
 
Paul Petrich and I were fortunate enough to go out on the Condor Express Saturday morning with Mike Edwards of Veneco explaining the "hydrocarbons" and oil seeps along the coast, especially by Platform Holly.    Both two hour trips were full, and the 8:30 am trip had 33 San Marcos High School students, 10 UCSB chemical engineer students, several Carpinteria Rotarians, and lots of interested local people.   Thanks to Captain Mat, Dave, and Matt in galley for allowing us on this educational trip.   Here are highlights of what we learned:
 
Near Hope Ranch, we stopped and looked at an area where the Monterey Shale was "sluffing" and had exposed a hydrocarbon vein.  Mr Edwards explained that sprinklers were watering the exposed area to avoid a "burn" caused when the hydrocarbons on the surface combine with oxygen.  When I inquired later, he said that natural fires may start from these exposed areas.
 
The carbons, which compose the oil being drilled in our channel today, date back 5-17 million years ago from diatoms laid on the ocean floor. 
 
We stopped also by the area where the barge ties up now.  The tie-up was built by Bank Line Oil in 1929, and as you have probably read in the news just this week is due to be replaced by a pipeline within the year.  
 
The most impressive was the "Shane Seep" near Platform Holly.  The bubbles rising were like a cauldron and the oil on the water was psychedelic colors.  He said the bubbles rise at 3 meters/second, which is a huge amount of pressure being released.   If the oil wells released this same amount of oil that comes naturally from this seep, Veneco would be charged $10,000 a day for polluting.   Mr. Edwards suggested looking at www.bubbleology.com for more information about seeps.
 
Platform Holly was built in 1966 by Arco in 211 feet of water.  It is the only oil platform in State waters (all others are in Federal waters) and has 30 wells that go 10,000 feet into the floor of the ocean.  There are three different layers of pipe.  From 20,000 barrels of oil and water, Veneco gets 2,000 barrels of oil.
 
The Ellwood field just north of Platform Holly by the Barcara was first explored in 1929 and produced over 1,000,000 barrels of oil.   There is only one well still left, and the pier was turned into a roosting structure for Brandt's cormorants and pelicans.
 
Also, I found it interesting that the Chumash indians thought the seeps were mendicinal.
 
Best regards,
Tara Brown
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