723947_E&B_OG

The California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) has approved a permit for E & B Natural Resources Management Corporation to perform sidetrack work on the Phippen 15 well (API #0402948670) located in the Antelope Hills Oil Field in Kern County, California. The project involves cleaning out the original hole to 2,816 feet, cementing up to 500 feet, and drilling a 6-1/4 inch sidetrack hole to 4,000 feet. The operator will then run and cement a 5-1/2 inch combination string with a lower-slotted section for production, with plug-back operations performed as necessary. The well will maintain its classification as an oil and gas producer. This project is certified as exempt from full environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), specifically citing categorical exemptions Class 1 for existing facilities, Class 2 for replacement or reconstruction, and Class 4 for minor alterations to land. The exemption is based on the fact that the work involves repair and minor alteration without expanding the use of the existing pad, resulting in no significant adverse environmental impact. The project was certified on August 1, 2025, and posted on August 4, 2025. Regulatory oversight and administrative records are managed by the CalGEM District Office in Bakersfield, California.