Historical California fracking information, 1861-2015

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Fracking in the U.S.
Energy policy in the U.S.
State fracking policy
State energy policy
Glossary of energy terms

This page contains historical information about fracking in California. For more current information about fracking in California, see this article.

Fracking background

See also: Fracking

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method of oil and natural gas extraction. The process involves injecting fluid into subterranean rock formation at a high pressure, creating a fracture network that allows the crude oil and natural gas inside dense rocks to flow into a wellbore and be extracted at the surface. The fluid used in this process is made up of sand and water, which comprise 95 percent of the fluid, and other chemical additives, which comprise less than 5 percent of the fluid.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), there were approximately 23,000 hydraulically fractured wells in the United States in 2000. By 2015, there were an estimated 300,000 hydraulically fractured wells. To learn more about fracking, see this article.

History

According to the California Department of Conservation, the first reports of oil in California date to the 1500s (early explorers noticed that Native Americans gathered asphaltum, a thick oil, from natural seeps). The first oil well in the state was drilled in 1861 in Humboldt County. Although the well was unsuccessful, this event marked the beginning of extensive drilling efforts in California. The first offshore wells in California (and the nation as a whole) were drilled in 1896 in Santa Barbara County.

The first significant gas zone discovered outside of an oil field was identified in 1926 in Kern County, although activity in the area was minimal due to the fact that natural gas was not in demand at the time. Gas exploration began in earnest in the late 1930s, increasing through the 1940s and 1950s. Beginning in the 1940s, gas demand exceeded supply, owing to population growth in the state.

According to the California Department of Conservation, fracking was used in California beginning in the 1980s.

According to the publisher of this photo, it is from a 1921 promotional brochure titled, "Orange County California, Nature's Prolific Wonderland - Spring Eternal."

Fracking at the ballot box

See also: Local fracking on the ballot

Voting on Fracking
Policy
Fracking policy
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot Local Local fracking

2015

d City of Hermosa Beach E&B Oil Drilling and Production Project, Measure O (March 2015)
An oil drilling and production project measure was on the ballot for Hermosa Beach city voters in Los Angeles County, California, on March 3, 2015. It was defeated. If the measure had been approved, it would have authorized an oil drilling and production project agreement between the city and E&B Natural Resources Management Corporation, providing for an exemption to the city's ban on oil and gas drilling. The project included 30 production wells and four injection wells.

d City of La Habra Heights Ban on New Oil & Gas Wells and Fracking Initiative, Measure A (March 2015)
An initiative to ban all new oil/gas wells and fracking was on the ballot for La Habra Heights voters in Los Angeles County, California, on March 3, 2015. It was defeated.

If the measure had been approved, it would have banned the following activities:

• the drilling of any new oil and gas wells;
• the reactivation of any old, unused wells; and
• fracking.

2014

On November 4, 2014, voters in three California counties voted on three possible fracking bans:

d Santa Barbara County Fracking Ban Initiative
The measure in Santa Barbara County was defeated. It was the only fracking ban on the November 4 ballot in California that did not pass.

a San Benito County Fracking Ban Initiative
The San Benito County measure prohibiting hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, and related gas and oil extraction activities was approved. Other "high-intensity petroleum operations," including acid well stimulation and cyclic steam injection, were prohibited. The measure also prohibited any new gas or oil drilling activity, including conventional, low-intensity activity, in areas of the county zoned for residential or rural land use.

a Mendocino County Community Bill of Rights Fracking and Water Use Initiative, Measure S
The Mendocino County measure was approved, banning fracking and all related activity, imposing criminal penalties for any violations.

Fracking in the 50 states

Click on a state below to read more about energy in that state.

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http://ballotpedia.org/Fracking_in_STATE

See also

• 

  Energy policy in the United States

• 

  Fracking in the United States

• 

  Environmental policy in the United States

External links

• U.S. Energy Information Administration, "California Profile"
• Frac Focus, "National Hydraulic Fracturing Chemical Registry"
  • Frac Focus, "Regulations by State"