Former Venoco Line 96 Abandonment Project

Engineering, project management, and construction supervision

Beacon West completed a significant decommissioning milestone with the safe and permanent abandonment of the former Ellwood Pipeline Inc. Line 96. Decommissioning of this 9-mile coastal pipeline, that extends from the Ellwood Onshore Facility in Goleta to a tie-in point with the former Plains All American Pipeline on the Gaviota Coast, was performed on behalf of the County of Santa Barbara who assumed responsibility for the pipeline following the Venoco bankruptcy. Upon approval from the Office of State Fire Marshal of the detailed procedures and acquisition of temporary property access agreements, the 6-inch diameter pipeline was purged using nitrogen, an inert gas, to push a poly pig from one end to the other. Approximately 1,670 barrels (over 70,000 gallons) of corrosion inhibitor-treated water was safely extracted from the pipeline, routed into vacuum trucks, and transported for proper disposal. The pipeline ends were securely sealed, and main line valve vaults were cement filled for safety purposes. All work was performed under the supervision of the Office of State Fire Marshal.