Texas-based oil company Amplify Energy has secured the regulatory nod to resume operations at Beta field, off the coast of California.
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Beta field was shut down following one of the worst oil spills in the state, which took place when vessels dragging their anchors damaged the pipeline back in January 2021.
Initially, the steps to begin full operations will involve filling the San Pedro Bay pipeline with production.
The company said that the process had recently been started and is expected to take nearly two weeks to complete.
Once the line fill process is completed, the pipeline can be operated in accordance with restart procedures that were reviewed and approved the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Last October, it secured a permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers to go ahead with repair plans.
The plans included removing the damaged segments of the pipeline from the ocean floor. Following this, new segments were installed as per the approved repair plans.
Once the pipeline was repaired, a series of safety and integrity tests, as per federal pipeline safety regulations, were performed. PHMSA also reviewed the pipeline restart plan.
Amplify Energy president and CEO Martyn Willsher said: “Safety has driven every aspect of our response, repair and restart operations, and safety will continue to guide our operating philosophy as we bring the Beta asset back online.
“The approval from federal regulatory agencies and the receipt of $85 million in net proceeds from the vessels that struck and damaged our pipeline substantially, concludes a very challenging last 18 months for the Company, and we are eager to focus our attention on safely operating our Beta assets, our business as a whole and the strategic direction of the Company.
“Amplify has operated off the coast of California for years in a safe and responsible manner, and we remain committed to ensuring the protection of our employees, the environment and our surrounding communities.”
