Offshore oil operations at Rincon Island to be retired

The California State Lands Commission has announced that they have taken back offshore oil and gas leases associated with Rincon Island in Ventura County.

The move officially ends offshore oil drilling and production from the island.

In addition, 1,500 acres have been added to the California Coastal Sanctuary.

Rincon Island Limited Partnership (RILP), a subsidiary of Greka Energy, held the leases in Ventura County. The company filed for bankruptcy after the commission discovered major regulatory violations on the leases.

On November 29, the bankruptcy trustee surrendered their rights in the leases to the state.

This is the the second offshore oil and gas drilling operation taken offline by the commission this year.

The California State Lands Commission is also responsible for the Platform Holly decommissioning project offshore in Santa Barbara County, after having assumed control of related leases from Venoco LLC in April.