California E&P Trio Petroleum Corp. updated its plans on Jan. 4 to restart production at the McCool Ranch oil field in California.

On Oct. 18, 2023, Trio Petroleum acquired approximately 22% working interest in McCool Ranch, which is located seven miles north of the their flagship South Salinas Project. Trio’s ownership is in the Hangman Hollow Area, a relatively new and developed area with four horizontal oil wells, two vertical oil wells, one water-disposal well, one freshwater well, and the capacity to drill approximately an additional 25 wells. The property is fully permitted for oil and gas production, cyclic-steam injection and water disposal and is being restarted after having been idle since about 2015.

The testing and repairs of equipment and facilities, idle since 2018, are proceeding favorably, the company said. The water disposal well at the field, the San Ardo WD-1 well, has been refurbished and tested, with water disposal by injection at this well able to commence as soon as needed.

The oilfield will restart production in stages, with two of its six previously producing wells returning to field production. The six wells collectively peaked at an average 400 bbl/d before being idled in 2015 due to falling oil prices. Trio Petroleum anticipates that each well will initially be produced cold — without heating by steam — and put on production using the cyclic steam method.

Trio Petroleum said current oil prices and other considerations make this an ideal time to restart McCool Ranch production. The property has significant upside potential with many undrilled infill and development well locations identified, the company said.

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