Oil rigs across Kern County are a reminder of the major role energy plays in everyday life. But now, California’s Senate Bill 1137 is raising questions about the future of oil production, property rights and new housing.
“SB 1137 makes it very hard for us to continue to produce. It also makes it very hard for us to rework wells or maintain the property under the terms and agreements with the land owners we were granted as the operators on the property,” said Brett Cooper, a royalty owner.
Senate Bill 1137 establishes a 3,200-foot setback between oil and gas wells and sensitive locations, including homes, schools and hospitals. The law is intended to protect people living near oil and gas operations, but royalty owners say the restrictions could limit production from existing wells…