Efforts Underway to Cap and Map Summerland’s Abandoned Oil Wells

For decades, Summerland Beach has suffered from a sticky plague: the constant seepage of oil from over 200 offshore wellheads, tracing back to the origins of the world’s first offshore oil wells in the 1890s. Despite lying abandoned for over 80 years, these wells continue to inflict their toll, leaving their mark on anyone who has strolled the coastline barefoot, the telltale tar sticking to their soles.

However, efforts are underway to permanently cap these wells and prevent further leaks. On Monday, the process of “re-abandonment” began for Treadwell Pier oil wells 1 & 5, managed by offshore engineering team 2H Offshore, with assistance for permits from Beacon-West Energy Group. The Curtin Maritime barge departed from Long Beach and headed to Summerland on Sunday, arriving Monday morning to begin the capping process.

Efforts to cap the two Treadwell Pier oil wells coincides with the initiation of an ambitious geologic study of the ocean floor off Summerland, spearheaded by environmental nonprofit Heal the Ocean (HTO).