California

Hydraulic fracturing in California is primarily used to maximize the yield of conventional wells rather than to reach gas otherwise inaccessible by conventional wells.

Go to Map

FracTracker and Consumer Watchdog continue to monitor permits to drill new oil and gas wells and rework existing wells under California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Click above to see the latest numbers and map. Browse the articles below to learn more.

RESOURCES

FracTracker Data Folder Contents

FracTracker provides state-specific data on issues such as:

Locations of oil and gas facilities
Pipelines and processor locations
Production amount of oil and gas generated
Amounts of waste generated from oil and gas

The data folders may also contain information on other energy generation locations, data from different years, and data on violations committed by oil and gas facilities. Amount of information and types of information will vary by state. Get data.

More Data Sources

CalGEM provides data on all California oil and gas wells.

Recommended Citation

If you are planning to use the maps or information from our site, here is how we request that you cite this content:

(Title). (Date Posted). (Mapped/provided) by FracTracker Alliance on FracTracker.org.

Please include a link to the original data source if available. Most FracTracker maps are built on an Esri platform. If you have questions about how to cite our work, please email us at info@fractracker.org.

LATEST CALIFORNIA ARTICLES

Assessment of Rework Permits on Oil Production from Operational Wells Within the 3,200-Foot Public Health Protection Zone

January 24, 2023

0 Comments

This analysis shows that the policy proposed in SB 1137 of denying rework permits within the health protection zones is a commonsense public health intervention that would have minimal effects on production within the protection zone.

CalGEM Permit Review Q4 2022: Oil Permit Approvals Show Steep Rise Within Protective Buffer Zones

January 18, 2023

0 Comments

During the fourth quarter of 2022, California regulator CalGEM issued oil and gas operators 222 new drilling permits, an increase of over 750% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. Of those, nearly half (100; 47%) were for wells located within the 3,200’ public health setback zone.

FracTracker Finds Widespread Hydrocarbon Emissions from Active & Idle Oil and Gas Wells and Infrastructure in California

August 22, 2022

0 Comments

FracTracker inspections of oil and gas infrastructure using an optical gas imaging camera found numerous sources of uncontrolled emissions in three California counties.

California Regulators Approve More Oil Well Permits Amid a Crisis of Leaking Oil Wells that Should be Plugged

July 29, 2022

0 Comments

FracTracker’s in-the-field inspections and updated analysis of CalGEM permit data shows that California’s regulatory practices and permitting policies risk exposing frontline communities to VOCs from oil and gas well sites.

This photo is of oil drilling in the Inglewood Oilfields of Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles. Photo by Brook Lenker, 2017.

Implications of a 3,200-foot Setback in California

April 6, 2022

0 Comments

California is the only major oil state without a health and safety setback from fossil fuel activity. This article explores what a setback in California means for its people and environment.

New Trends in Drilling Permit Approvals Take Shape in CA

March 15, 2022

2 Comments

FracTracker's recent analysis finds that California's drilling permit approvals have slowed since last October, but not across the board. This trend only applies to permits for new drilling and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) wells.

Oil and Gas Drilling in California Legislative Districts

March 14, 2022

0 Comments

FracTracker has been working with grassroots organizations to inform legislators and locals about oil and gas extraction in their districts, including maps and tables of the infrastructure in their areas.

Oil and gas companies use a lot of water to extract oil in drought-stricken California

November 9, 2021

2 Comments

FracTracker details the disproportionate amounts of water used by the oil and gas industry in CA and recommends that Gov. Newsom take action.

It’s Time to Stop Urban Oil Drilling in Los Angeles

September 14, 2021

0 Comments

Oil & gas wells in Los Angeles disproportionately impact marginalized communities, producing dangerous levels of invisible, toxic emissions.

Prison Strike Poster by Melanie Cervantes

California Prisons are Within 2,500’ of Oil and Gas Extraction

September 9, 2021

0 Comments

California prisoners are on the frontlines of the environmental justice movement, thousands living within 2,500’ of operational O&G wells.

BLenker_infrastructure-oilrig-southLA-CA_Oct2017 feature

New Neighborhood Drilling Permits Issued While California Fails to Act on Public Health Rules

August 5, 2021

0 Comments

California drilling permits continue while Frontline communities and grassroots groups call for an immediate moratorium and 2,500' setback.

Executive Summary New research shows that low-income communities…

D O N A T E N O W

California

RESOURCES

Data Downloads

Imagery

Map Tutorials

FracTracker Data Folder Contents

More Data Sources

Recommended Citation

LATEST CALIFORNIA ARTICLES

Assessment of Rework Permits on Oil Production from Operational Wells Within the 3,200-Foot Public Health Protection Zone

CalGEM Permit Review Q4 2022: Oil Permit Approvals Show Steep Rise Within Protective Buffer Zones

FracTracker Finds Widespread Hydrocarbon Emissions from Active & Idle Oil and Gas Wells and Infrastructure in California

California Regulators Approve More Oil Well Permits Amid a Crisis of Leaking Oil Wells that Should be Plugged

Implications of a 3,200-foot Setback in California

New Trends in Drilling Permit Approvals Take Shape in CA

Oil and Gas Drilling in California Legislative Districts

Oil and gas companies use a lot of water to extract oil in drought-stricken California

It’s Time to Stop Urban Oil Drilling in Los Angeles

California Prisons are Within 2,500’ of Oil and Gas Extraction

New Neighborhood Drilling Permits Issued While California Fails to Act on Public Health Rules

California Oil & Gas Drilling Permits Drop in Response to Decreased Permit Applications to CalGEM

California Denies Well Stimulation Permits

Kern County’s Drafted EIR Will Increase the Burden for Frontline Communities

California Oil & Gas Setbacks Recommendations Memo

Oil and Gas Wells on California State Lands

People and Production: Reducing Risk in California Extraction

Documenting emissions from new oil and gas wells in California

Recommendations for an EIR to prioritize Kern County Frontline Communities

Systematic Racism in Kern County Oil and Gas Permitting Ordinance

California, Back in Frack