California Court Upholds State Restrictions on Sable Offshore Pipeline Restart
A California court has ruled that Sable Offshore cannot restart its pipeline without state approval, reinforcing state authority over the project despite federal intervention.
(P&GJ) — A California court has ruled that Sable Offshore Corp. cannot restart its coastal pipeline without state approval, affirming existing restrictions despite a federal order aimed at accelerating operations.
The Santa Barbara Superior Court said a federal directive issued under the Defense Production Act does not override a prior injunction requiring the company to meet state permitting and safety requirements before resuming service.
The ruling centers on Sable’s efforts to restart pipeline operations tied to offshore production in California, which have been subject to ongoing legal challenges from state regulators and environmental groups.
State officials have argued that any restart must comply with existing laws and safety standards, including requirements put in place following a 2015 oil spill that led to the pipeline’s shutdown.
The court’s decision reinforces California’s authority over pipeline operations within its jurisdiction and maintains the requirement that Sable secure all necessary approvals before resuming service.
The pipeline remains offline as legal and regulatory proceedings continue.
Production Ramps Up Amid Ongoing Legal Dispute
Sable Offshore has continued increasing production across its California assets as more wells return to service, even as legal challenges over its pipeline operations remain unresolved.
The company recently resumed oil flows through the pipeline system connecting the Santa Ynez offshore platforms to California refineries and is gradually bringing additional wells online. Current production includes about 40 active wells across Platforms Harmony and Heritage, each producing roughly 750 barrels per day.
Sable expects total output to rise further as additional wells are restarted, with a third platform, Hondo, scheduled to begin operations in June. Once fully operational, the platform could add approximately 10,000 barrels per day to overall production.
The production ramp-up comes amid ongoing disputes with California regulators and environmental groups, which have challenged the pipeline restart and continue to contest the project in court.