PXP Plains Exploration & Production Company Revisions to the Platform Hidalgo Development and Production Plan to Include Development of the Western Half NW/4 of Lease OCS-P 0450 Accompanying Information Volume Environmental Evaluation Submitted to: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Pacific OCS Region Submitted by: Plains Exploration and Production Company October 2012 Address Inquires To: Mr. David Rose Manager Environmental, Health & Safety Plains Exploration and Production Company 201 S Broadway Street Orcutt, CA 93455 (805) 934-8220 [email protected] Accompanying Information Volume – Environmental Evaluation Hidalgo DPP Revision Table of Contents Page 1.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 2.0 Proposed Project Description ...............................................................................................3 2.1 Drilling Program ......................................................................................................5 2.2 Muds and Cuttings ...................................................................................................5 2.3 Transportation Requirements ...................................................................................5 2.4 Oil and Gas Processing ............................................................................................6 2.5 Produced Water ........................................................................................................8 2.6 Production Estimates for The Western Half of OCS-P 0450 ..................................9 2.7 Development Schedule for the Western Half of OCS-P 0450 ...............................10 3.0 Scope and Approach to the Environmental Evaluation .....................................................11 4.0 Proposed Project Environmental Evaluation .....................................................................22 4.1 Marine Environment ..............................................................................................22 4.1.1 Oceanographic Setting ...............................................................................22 4.1.2 Marine Resources.......................................................................................32 4.1.3 Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures..................................................63 4.2 Air Quality .............................................................................................................79 4.2.1 Air Quality Setting .....................................................................................79 4.2.2 Project-Specific Impacts and Mitigation Measures ...................................90 4.3 Oil Spill Risk..........................................................................................................96 4.3.1 Oil Spill Risk Setting .................................................................................97 4.3.2 Project Oil Spill Risk ...............................................................................101 5.0 References ........................................................................................................................104 List of Tables Table 2.1 Point Arguello Platform General Data .....................................................................3 Table 2.2 Estimated Muds and Cutting Volumes by Well ......................................................5 Table 2.3 Estimated Truck Trips for the Proposed Project ......................................................6 Table 2.4 Estimated Peak Produced Water Discharge Rates ...................................................8 Table 2.5 Produced Water Discharge Parameters ....................................................................9 Table 2.6 Estimated Oil and Gas Properties ............................................................................9 Table 3.1 Results of Issue Area Screening Analysis .............................................................13 Table 4.1 Depth Distribution of Demersal Fish Common to the Project Area ......................35 Table 4.2 Toothed Whales of the Eastern North Pacific and their Occurrence in the Project Area......................................................................................................39 Table 4.3 Baleen Whales (Mysticeti) of the Eastern North Pacific and their Status in the Project Area .................................................................................................41 i Accompanying Information Volume – Environmental Evaluation Hidalgo DPP Revision Table 4.4 Pinnipeds and Otters of the Eastern North Pacific and Their Status off California ..........................................................................................................42 Table 4.5 Sea Turtles of the Eastern North Pacific and Their Status in the Project Area .....44 Table 4.6 Common Coastal and Marine Bird Species and their Occurrence in the Project Area ...........................................................................................................47 Table 4.7 Coastal and Marine Bird Species that Nest on the Northern Channel Islands .......50 Table 4.8 Sensitive Bird Species Occurring in the Project Area ...........................................51 Table 4.9 List of Intertidal Species Collected at a Northern Santa Barbara Location ...........58 Table 4.10 Dominant Infauna Species Reported From Five Monitoring Stations Located in Central California ..............................................................................................59 Table 4.11 Ten Most Abundant Infauna Species, by Water Depth, off the Coast of Point Arguello .................................................................................................................60 Table 4.12 The Ten Most Abundant Hard-Bottom Taxa in Low Relief (0.2-0.5 m) and High Relief (>1.0 m) Habitats Near Platform Hidalgo ..........................................62 Table 4.13 Comparison of Impacts Contained in the Arguello Project DP EIR/S and Additional Impacts Potentially Caused by the Proposed Project ...........................63 Table 4.14 Historical and Proposed Volumes of Drilling Fluid and Drill Cuttings Discharges from Point Arguello Platforms ............................................................64 Table 4.15 Existing Exterior Lighting on Platform Hidalgo ...................................................75 Table 4.16 Estimated Exterior Lighting for Drilling Rig .........................................................76 Table 4.17 National and California Ambient Air Quality Standards .......................................84 Table 4.18 Attainment Status of Affected Air Basins .............................................................86 Table 4.19 BACT, AQIA, and Offset Requirements ...............................................................89 Table 4.20 Permitted Emissions for Point Arguello Platforms (tons/yr) .................................89 Table 4.21 2011 Actual Emissions from Point Arguello Platforms (tons/yr) ..........................89 Table 4.22 Comparison of Impacts Contained in the Arguello Project DP EIR/S and Additional Impacts Potentially Caused by the Proposed Project ...........................90 Table 4.23 Estimated Turbine Emission Increase from the Proposed Drilling Operations .....91 Table 4.24 Estimated Emissions from Drilling Operation Support Equipment Engines.........92 Table 4.25 Estimated Emissions from the Mud Handling Equipment ....................................93 Table 4.26 Estimated Emissions from Drilling Supply Boat Trips .........................................93 Table 4.27 Estimated Fugitive Emission Increase from Proposed Project ..............................94 Table 4.28 Comparison of Proposed Project’s Peak Annual Emissions to Total Permitted Emissions .....................................................................................95 Table 4.29 Estimated Offsite Truck Emissions Associated with the Proposed Project ...........95 Table 4.30 Comparison of Oil Spill Risk Contained in the Arguello Project EIR/EIS and Additional Risks Potentially Caused by the Proposed Project........................96 Table 4.31 OCS Platform and Pipeline Spill Rate, 1996-2010 ................................................98 Table 4.32 Oil Spill Probability Estimates for the Point Arguello Unit ..................................98 Table 4.33 Point Arguello Platform Worst-Case Oil Spill Volumes – Point Arguello Unit ................................................................................................99 Table 4.34 Oil Spill Probability Estimates for the Proposed Project .....................................102 ii Accompanying Information Volume – Environmental Evaluation Hidalgo DPP Revision Table 4.35 Point Arguello Platform Worst-Case Oil Spill Volumes – Point Arguello Unit and Proposed Project ...........................................................103 List of Figures Figure 2-1 Location of Western Half OCS-P 0450 ...................................................................4 Figure 2-2 Estimated Development Schedule for the Western Half NW/4 of lease OCS-P 0450 ..........................................................................................................10 Figure 4-1 Location of Offshore Platforms in the Study Region ...........................................23 Figure 4-2 Seasonal Abundance of Pinnipeds in the Waters of Central and Northern California ...............................................................................................................43