Article 4 — COMBINING OIL DISTRICTS.

(Amended by O-2130; O-2194; O-2829)

It is the intent of this Article to establish a category of "Combining Oil Districts" in which present and future secondary recovery oil development in unit operations approved by the State Division of Oil and Gas and primary production oil operations approved by the City Council will be permitted under certain limitations for the purpose of making possible compatible residential, institutional, industrial and commercial development within the area included in such operations, and conserving oil and gas resources while permitting efficient exploitation thereof.

(Amended by O-2130; O-2194; O-2829)

There are hereby established "Combining Oil Districts" designated "O1", "O2", "O3", "O4" and "O-5" (PP), which when shown on the Zoning Map of the City, in combination with a basic Zoning symbol, such as R-1, R-2, R-3, etc., the property so designated shall be subject to the provisions of such basic Oil Code of the City of Torrance, and the provisions hereinafter set forth.

For the purpose of this Article, the following words and phrases are defined:

a) "Processing" shall include the use of facilities for gauging, recycling, compression, repressuring, injection, reinjection, dehydration, stimulation, separation, (including liquids from gas), shipping and transportation of, and gathering from other sites of oil, gas and other hydrocarbon substances and water and combinations thereof.

b) "Rework or Repair" shall mean any work within an existing bore hole.

• c) "Redrill" shall mean any drilling operation (including deviation from original well bore) to recomplete said well in the same or different zone.

d) "Deepen" shall mean any extension of existing well bore below its existing depth.

(Amended by O-2228; O-2705; O-2829)

The following general provisions shall apply to the O-1, O-2, O-3, O-4 and O-5 (PP) Combining Oil Districts:

a) Whenever a subdivision or development of property exists or is proposed within any Combining Oil District or known oil field, such subdivision or proposal shall include a plan of the disposition or treatment of any existing or future oil wells or operations on the property. Approval by the City of any such subdivision or proposal shall include a plan for oil operation. The lack of such plan shall be grounds for disapproval of any proposal. Any plan for the disposition or treatment of any oil operations shall include the written concurrence of the landowner or developer and lessee or oil operator. No building shall receive final inspection for occupancy and no public improvements shall be accepted until the plan for disposition or treatment of oil operation has been completed and approved.

b) No property within any Combining Oil District shall be used for an oil refinery and no sump holes shall be permitted on any site.

c) Reasonable fire fighting equipment, as required and approved by the City Fire Chief shall be maintained on the site at all times during drilling and production operations.

d) Suitable sanitary facilities shall be installed and maintained during drilling, redrilling or remedial operations.

e) All drilling mud, cuttings and other oil field waste shall be discharged into a steel tank or other receptacle. Upon completion of drilling, such tank or container and all waste material therein shall be removed from the site and the surface of the site restored to a clean and sanitary condition.

f) Within sixty (60) days after the drilling of each well has been completed and the well has been on production or abandoned, the derrick and all drilling equipment shall be entirely removed from the site unless such derrick and appurtenant equipment is to be used within such time for the drilling of another well on the same site. g) Such sites and all private roads within or used for access to and from such site shall be suitably surfaced and maintained to minimize dust.

h) Any machinery used in the production and/or processing of substances within the site shall be designed and/or housed and operated so that noise, odor and vibration shall be limited to a minimum; noise to be limited to a level compatible with the ambient neighborhood noise level.

i) Prior to commencement of any operation on any parcel of land in any Combining Oil District, the operator shall comply with the requirements of the Division of Oil and Gas, State of California.

j) All installations, structures and facilities on an operation site shall be kept painted and in good condition and together with the ground area comprising such site shall be maintained in a clean, neat and sanitary condition.

k) Sites O-1, O-2 and O-3 may be used for the purpose of drilling, production, operation, stimulation, rework, repair and maintenance of the well or wells to be located thereon, including use of such wells for injection in connection with any secondary recovery program, and including the installation and use of equipment, structures, tools and other facilities incidental, necessary and accessory to such production operation, stimulation, rework, repair, maintenance and injection thereof. l) No oil well or well used for the injection or reinjection of water or gas may be drilled, redrilled or deepened unless a Drilling Permit is issued therefor as provided in Article 11 of this Chapter 7.

The following provisions shall apply to the "O1" Combining Oil District:

a) Sites designated on the Zoning Map as "O1" shall not exceed eight (8) acres in size and shall constitute exclusive Controlled Oil Drilling, Producing, Processing and Shipping Tank Sites which may be used for the exclusive purpose of drilling wells for, and the production of oil, gas, other hydrocarbon substances including the installation and use of equipment, structures, tools and other facilities incidental, necessary and accessory to the drilling and production and processing of substances produced by such wells for shipment to pipe line.

b) That portion of site proposed for use shall be enclosed with a chain link fence or block wall having a minimum height of six (6) feet and equipped with solid gates of wall height, which gates shall be securely fastened at all times except when authorized personnel are in attendance at such site.

c) The drilling of any well shall not be conducted in such a manner as to cause excessive noise, odor and vibration and shall be conducted pursuant to one (1) of the following alternates:

1. Where drilling operations are conducted beyond a distance of three hundred (300) feet from occupied residential areas, no soundproofing will be required unless necessary to minimize excessive disturbance to such areas.

2. Where such drilling is conducted in areas in which disturbances to residential areas could reasonably be anticipated, the operator of such drilling operations shall either:

A) Enclose the derrick and all drilling machinery used in connection with the drilling of any well, with fire resistant soundproofing material, which shall be maintained in a serviceable condition and provided, further that no operations outside of said enclosure except for well logging shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day; or.

B) Enclose all drilling machinery used in connection with the drilling of any well with fire resistant soundproofing material and the portable drilling mast shall be so enclosed, at least on three (3) sides, to a height of twenty (20) feet, and provided further, that no drilling operations or any work in connection with such drilling operation shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, except only that circulation of fluids and well logging may be continued during such time and in case of emergency, provided that notice of such emergency shall be given to the Chief of Police, or then Acting Chief of Police, of such necessity and emergency at the time such emergency arises.

d) All production shall be transported from any site by buried pipeline.

e) Except in case of emergency, no materials, equipment, tools, or pipe used for drilling operations, or drilling mud, cuttings, or oil field wastes resulting from such operations, shall be delivered to or moved from such site by trucks between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., of the following day, provided that such delivery or removal of materials and equipment used in logging or testing shall be excepted from the provisions of this subsection.

The following provisions shall apply to the "O2" Combining Oil District:

a) Sites designated on the Zoning Map as "O2" shall not exceed five (5) acres in size and shall constitute Exclusive Controlled Oil Drilling and Producing Sites which may be used for the exclusive purpose of drilling wells for, and the production of oil, gas, other hydrocarbon substances including the installation and use of equipment, structures, tools and other facilities incidental, necessary and accessory to the drilling and production of substances produced by such wells for shipment to pipeline.

b) That portion of site proposed for use shall be enclosed with a chain link fence or block wall having a minimum height of six (6) feet and equipped with solid gates of wall height, which gates shall be securely fastened at all times except when authorized personnel are in attendance at such site.

c) The drilling of any well shall not be conducted in such a manner as to cause excessive noise, odor and vibration and shall be conducted pursuant to one of the following alternates:

1. Where drilling operations are conducted beyond a distance of three hundred (300) feet from occupied residential areas, no soundproofing will be required unless necessary to minimize excessive disturbance to such areas.

2. Where such drilling is conducted in areas in which disturbance to residential areas could reasonably be anticipated, the operator of such drilling operation shall either:

A) Enclose the derrick and all drilling machinery used in connection with the drilling of any well, with fire resistant soundproofing material, which shall be maintained in a serviceable condition and provided further that no operations outside of said enclosure except for well logging shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, or.

B) Enclose all drilling machinery used in connection with the drilling of any well with fire resistant soundproofing material and the portable drilling mast shall be so enclosed, at least on three (3) sides, to a height of twenty (20) feet; and further provided, that no drilling operations or any work in connection with such drilling operation shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, except only that circulation of fluids and well logging may be continued during such time and in case of emergency, provided that notice of such emergency shall be given to the Chief of Police, or then Acting Chief of Police of such necessity and emergency at the time such emergency arises.

d) All production shall be transported from any site by buried pipeline.

e) Except in case of emergency, no materials, equipment, tools or pipe used for drilling operations, or drilling mud, cuttings or oil field wastes resulting from such operations, shall be delivered to or removed from such site by trucks between the hours of 7:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, provided that such delivery or removal of materials and equipment used in logging or testing shall be excepted from the provisions of this subsection.

The following provisions shall apply to the "O3" Combining Oil District:

a) Sites designated on the Zoning Map as "O3" shall constitute Exclusive Producing and Replacement Well Drilling Sites which may be used for the exclusive purposes of production from existing wells or replacing such wells provided, however, no new wells shall be drilled therefrom other than wells to replace or redrill existing wells which said wells may be drilled to the same or to any other geologic horizon.

b) All oil production other than required for drilling and production operations shall be transported from any such site by buried pipeline.

c) The drilling of any well shall not be conducted in such a manner as to cause excessive noise, odor and vibration and shall be conducted pursuant to one of the following alternates:

• 1. Where drilling operations are conducted beyond a distance of three hundred (300) feet from occupied residential areas, no soundproofing will be required unless necessary to minimize excessive disturbances to such areas.

2. Where such drilling is conducted in areas in which disturbances to residential areas could reasonably be anticipated, the operator of such drilling operation shall either:

A) Enclose the derrick and all drilling machinery used in connection with the drilling of any well, with fire resistant soundproofing material, which shall be maintained in a serviceable condition and provided further that no operations outside of said enclosure except for well logging shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day; or

B) Enclose all drilling machinery used in connection with the drilling of any well with fire resistant soundproofing material and the portable drilling mast shall be so enclosed, at least on three (3) sides, to a height of twenty (20) feet, and provided further, that no drilling operations or any work in connection with such drilling operation shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, except only that circulation of fluids and well logging may be continued during such time and in case of emergency, provided that notice of such emergency shall be given to the Chief of Police, or then Acting Chief of Police of such necessity and emergency at the time such emergency arises.

d) No permanent tanks, gauging (other than in-line meters and temporary meter provers) or other permanent shipping facilities shall be permitted on such site.

e) Portable equipment shall be used in all remedial, rework or maintenance work and shall be removed from this site upon completion of such work.

f) All remedial, rework or maintenance work conducted on the existing well or site shall, except in the case of necessity or emergency, be conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. of one day and 7:00 p.m. of the same day.

g) Site or production equipment having external moving parts hazardous to life or limb shall be enclosed with adequate type fence or screen sufficient to prevent unauthorized access thereto and shall have a minimum height of six (6) feet. Fence gates shall be placed at nonhazardous locations and shall be locked at all times when unattended.

h) Except in case of emergency, no materials, equipment, tools or pipe used for drilling operations, or drilling mud, cutting or oil field wastes resulting from such operations, shall be delivered to or removed from such site by truck between the hours of 7:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, provided that such delivery or removal of materials and equipment used in logging or testing shall be excepted from the provisions of this subsection.

The following provisions shall apply to the "O4" Combining Oil District:

a) Areas designated on the Zoning Map as "O4" shall constitute producing areas which may be used for the exclusive purpose of production, operation stimulation, rework, repair and maintenance of the existing well or well located thereon, including use of such wells for injection in connection with any secondary recovery program, and including the installation and use of equipment, structures, tools, and other facilities incidental, necessary and accessory to such production operation, stimulation, rework, repair, maintenance and injection thereof. The uses permitted to such "O4" sites shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:

1. No new wells shall be drilled thereon or therefrom, nor shall existing wells be redrilled or deepened.

• 2. No permanent tanks, gauging (other than in-line meters and temporary meter provers) or other permanent shipping facilities shall be permitted on such site.

3. Portable equipment shall be used in all remedial, rework or maintenance work and shall be removed from this site upon completion of such work.

(Added by O-2829)

The following provisions shall apply to the O-5 (PP) Combining Oil District:

a) Sites designated on the Zoning Map as O-5 (PP) shall not be less than one-half acre in size and constitute exclusive controlled oil drilling, processing and shipping tank sites for primary oil production which may be used for the exclusive purpose of drilling wells for, and the production of oil, gas, other hydrocarbon substances including the installation and use of equipment, structures, tools and other facilities incidental, necessary and accessory to the drilling and production and processing of substances produced by such wells for shipment to pipeline.

b) The drilling of any well shall not be conducted in such a manner as to cause excessive noise, odor and vibration and shall be conducted pursuant to one (1) of the following alternates:

1. Where drilling operations are conducted beyond a distance of three hundred (300) feet from occupied residential areas, no soundproofing will be required unless necessary to minimize excessive disturbance to such areas.

2. Where such drilling is conducted in areas in which disturbances to residential areas could reasonably be anticipated, the operator of such drilling operations shall either:

A) Enclose the derrick and all drilling machinery used in connection with the drilling of any well, with fire resistant soundproofing material, which shall be maintained in a serviceable condition and provided further that no operations outside of said enclosure except for well logging shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day; or

B) Enclose all drilling machinery used in connection with the drilling of any well with fire resistant soundproofing material and the portable drilling mast shall be so enclosed at least on three (3) sides, to a height of twenty (20) feet, and provided further, that no drilling operations of any work in connection with such drilling operation shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, except only that circulation of fluids and well logging may be continued during such time and in case of emergency, provided that notice of such emergency shall be given to the Chief of Police, or then Acting Chief of Police, of such necessity and emergency at the time such emergency arises.

c) Subject to the provisions of subsections 2) and 3) of this subjection c):

1. All production shall be transported from any site by buried pipeline.

2. The Environmental Quality Commission may grant a waiver of said requirement and allow transportation of the production by tank truck in any case where the oil operator has proved to the reasonable satisfaction of the Commission that it is impracticable and an unreasonable hardship on the oil operator to comply with said requirement. Such waiver may be granted at the hearing on an application for a drilling permit for a well to be drilled on such site. Such waiver shall be granted only for the period of testing, not to exceed six (6) months, to determine if such well is capable of producing oil or gas in commercial quantities. In making such determination, the Commission shall consider, among other factors, the compatibility of the land uses in the neighborhood of such site with transportation of production by tank truck, the probable frequency and times of such tank truck movements, and the cost of constructing such pipeline.

3. The Planning Commission may grant a variance from said requirement during the period, or any part thereof, that such a well is on production in accordance with the provisions of Article 1, Chapter 4, Division 9 of the Torrance Municipal Code (Section 94.1.1. et seq.) and, in addition, the criteria for a waiver set forth in subsection 2)

d) Except in case of emergency, no materials, equipment, tools, or pipe used for drilling operations, or drilling mud, cuttings, or oil field wastes resulting from such operations, shall be delivered to or moved from such site by trucks between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., of the following day, provided that such delivery or removal of materials and equipment used in logging or testing shall be excepted from the provisions of this subsection.

(Added by O-2829)

No site shall be placed in an O-5 (PP) Combining Oil District unless, in the judgment of the City Council, all of the following criteria are met:

a) The operator plans to drill new wells or redrill or deepen existing wells on such site within the following twelve (12) month period.

b) There is likely to be a substantial increase in the production of oil or gas therefrom.

c) The facility, if an existing one, is being operated and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter 7.

d) No tank, heater or other above surface building or structure which is included in such facility is located in the right of way of a street or alley as shown in any Master Plan or specific plan of the City or as otherwise required to be dedicated to the City by the laws of the City or State upon the issuance of a building permit; provided, however, that the Planning Commission may grant a waiver of this requirement, in any case where the oil operator has proved to the reasonable satisfaction of the Commission that it is impracticable and an unreasonable hardship on the owner or oil operator to move such tank, heater, building or structure outside such right of way.

e) There has been dedicated to the City that part of the property on which such facility is located sufficient to bring the right-of-way of the adjacent street or alley to the width as set forth in any Master Plan or specific plan of the City or as otherwise required by the laws of the City or State upon the issuance of a building permit; and there has been constructed on such facility sidewalk, curb, gutter, make-up pavement and such other street improvements as are required by the general or any specific plan of the City or as otherwise required for the issuance of a building permit; provided, however, that the Planning Commission may grant a waiver of this requirement in any case where the oil operator has proved to the reasonable satisfaction of the Commission that he had made a good faith effort to comply therewith but he is unable to do so for reasons beyond his control.

f) No tank which is included in such facility is located in such proximity to an adjoining lot so as to prohibit the construction of a building or structure on said lot or so as to constitute a fire hazard by reason of the provisions of the City’s Fire Prevention Code or Building Code.

g) The continued or future use of the subject property for oil or gas production will not be materially detrimental to the property of other persons located in the vicinity of such facility.

h) The continued or future use of the subject property for oil or gas production will not substantially interfere with the orderly development of the City as provided for in the Land Use Element of the General Plan.

i) An Environmental Impact Report thereon has been approved which has addressed, among other possible effects, noise, odors, vibration, aesthetics and devaluation of adjacent properties.

(Added by O-2829)

No well shall be drilled, redrilled or deepened; no equipment shall be installed or placed on the site, and no building or structure shall be constructed, erected or placed on the site until a precise plan therefor has been approved as provided in Article 2, Chapter 6 of this Division 9.

(Added by O-2829)

a) Subject to the provisions of subsections b) and c) of this Section 97.4.13., all oil wells, gas wells, oil storage tanks, heaters and other oil or gas production facilities situated in an O-5 (PP) Combining Oil District shall be completely removed and such wells shall be abandoned on or before twenty (20) years from the date the Precise Plan for the site was approved as required by Section 97.4.12

b) The Environmental Quality Commission shall grant an exception from said twenty (20) year limitation period for such oil or gas production facilities in accordance with the provisions of Section 97.13.5

c) The Planning Commission may grant an extension of time for such oil or gas production facilities not to exceed ten (10) years for amortization purposes in accordance with the provisions of Sections 97.13.6., 97.13.7., and 97.13.8.