The Cymric Oil Field is a large oil field in Kern County , California , in the United States . While only the 14th-largest oil field in California in total size, in terms of total remaining reserves it ranks fifth, with the equivalent of over 119 million barrels (18,900,000 m) still in the ground. Production at Cymric has been increasing faster than at any other California oil field.
21-553: The Cymric field is in the Temblor Valley, along the west side of State Route 33 , between that highway and the Temblor Range . It is north of the town of McKittrick , which is at the junction of State Route 58 and 33. The field is approximately 11 miles (18 km) long, from northwest to southeast, and up to 2 miles (3.2 km) across, including several smaller discontiguous areas which are considered geologically to be part of
42-486: A braided stream and fan delta depositional environment , while the depositional characteristics of the Amnicola suggest a lacustrine (lake) environment, as well as braided stream. These kinds of rocks have high porosity (around 35%) but low permeability , allowing considerable oil to accumulate in the formation, while a combination of structural and stratigraphic traps keep the oil from migrating further upward. Throughout
63-593: A letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964 , based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary ( for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions ). Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines;
84-574: Is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California . It runs north from U.S. Route 101 in Ventura through the Transverse Ranges and the western side of the San Joaquin Valley to Interstate 5 at a point east of Tracy . SR 33 replaced part of U.S. Route 399 in 1964 during the " great renumbering " of routes. In the unincorporated sections of Kern County it is known as
105-552: Is arid to semi-arid, and the predominant native groundcover is grassland and low scrub. In many areas of active oil field development, almost all vegetation has been removed. Most of the oil in the Cymric field is in a sandstone formation known as the Tulare , which is divided into three units: the Tulare I, II, and Amnicola. All are of Pleistocene age. The Tulare formation was created mainly in
126-564: Is especially advised, since summertime temperatures in the area routinely surpass 100 °F (38 °C). Several segments of this route are part of the California Freeway and Expressway System , but only two segments, one south of the northern city limits of Ojai, and one near SR 152 are part of the National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by
147-667: The Agua (Santos) pool in the Temblor formation , of Oligocene age; and the Kreyenhagen Formation , of Eocene age. One of the most productive pools of all, the Carneros pool in the Temblor Formation, was not discovered until 1946, but it reached its peak production just one year later, with over 2,300,000 barrels (370,000 m) produced during that year from that pool alone. Many of
168-661: The Federal Highway Administration . Several segments are eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System ; however, only the portion from 6.4 miles north of the SR 150 junction to the Ventura–Santa Barbara county line is a scenic highway as designated by Caltrans , meaning that it is a substantial section of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where
189-631: The San Joaquin River until its northern terminus at I-5 and Bird Road southeast of Tracy. When passing through the Avenal/Coalinga area travelers pass near a series of prisons and government facilities. They include: Avenal State Prison , Pleasant Valley State Prison , and the Coalinga State Hospital . In the portions of the route in Kern and Fresno Counties , SR 33 passes through one of
210-837: The West Side Highway . In addition, the California Legislature designated the entire Kern County portion as the Petroleum Highway in 2004. The southernmost portion in Ventura is a freeway known as the Ojai Freeway , while it is known as the Maricopa Highway from Ojai to Maricopa . State Route 33 begins in Ventura as a short freeway ("Ojai Freeway"). SR 33 then continues north as Maricopa Highway , an undivided surface road, through Ojai , following Matilija Canyon past
231-483: The 20th century; but rather in 1996 with 11,673,403 barrels (1,855,922.8 m). In 2006, the most recent year for which data was available, it had the fastest-growing production of any field in California. Oil produced at Cymric is predominantly heavy crude, with specific gravity around 11-15 API . Since it flows poorly, being highly viscous, much of the field is steamflooded . This combination of water and heat assists
SECTION 10
#1732870081271252-699: The United States' largest petroleum extraction fields, with hundreds of nodding oil pumps along the highway. Some of the fields visible from the highway include the Midway-Sunset, South and North Belridge , Cymric , McKittrick , Lost Hills , and Coalinga oil fields. Most of SR 33's route passes through sparsely populated, relatively desolate portions of the San Joaquin Valley. Travelers along it should use caution, since emergency services are typically dozens of miles away. Carrying extra water and coolant
273-660: The earth, emerges at the spectacular and dangerous temperature of 307 °F (153 °C). The deepest well in the entire Cymric field was one drilled by the Superior Oil Company , to a depth of 12,022 feet (3,664 m), into the Point of Rocks formation , of Eocene age. The Nacirema Oil Company discovered the Cymric field in 1909, when they drilled into the huge Tulare pool with their Well No. 1. Unusual for San Joaquin Valley oil fields, peak production for Cymric did not occur early in
294-678: The easternmost extremity of the Santa Ynez Mountains in Los Padres National Forest , and passing over the Transverse Ranges at Pine Mountain Summit. As SR 33 comes down into the Cuyama Valley, it comes up to a junction with SR 166 east of Cuyama . Route 33 continues with Route 166 as they enter Kern County for about 20 miles (32 km) to Maricopa where the routes separate. In Maricopa, Route 33 turns northwest, following
315-694: The history of the field, these upper units have been the most productive, and they were also the first to be discovered, in 1909. Other productive units include the Etchegoin , of Pliocene age (this same unit is productive in many oil fields in the southwestern San Joaquin Valley); the Reef Ridge Formation , of Miocene age; the McDonald/Devilwater pool in the Monterey Formation , of Miocene age;
336-517: The main field. Elevations on the field range from approximately 600 to 1,000 feet (180 to 300 m). Adjacent to the Cymric Field on the south are the smaller fields of McKittrick , Belgian Anticline and Railroad Gap, and on the east, along Route 33, is the small Monument Junction field. The enormous South Belridge Field , one of the largest in California, begins about 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Cymric's northernmost extent. The local climate
357-572: The movement of petroleum towards production wells. Production wells on the Cymric field are often closely spaced, with some parts of the oil field having wells at 110-foot (34 m) spacing (5/8 acre). Currently, the principal operators on the field are Chevron Corp. , Aera Energy LLC , and Plains Exploration and Production (PXP), which acquired former operator Nuevo Energy in 2004. 35°22′06″N 119°41′23″W / 35.3683°N 119.6896°W / 35.3683; -119.6896 California State Route 33 State Route 33 ( SR 33 )
378-452: The pools, especially in the deeper units, were not found until the 1940s to the 1980s. Some are small and disconnected, trapped by faulting and impermeable units, often at considerable depth; for example, the Phacoides pool in the Temblor Formation is at 10,145 feet (3,092 m) below ground surface, and the field operators did not find it until 1967. Oil from this unit, coming from so deep in
399-560: The potential designation has gained popular favor with the community. This scenic segment is also designated as part of the Jacinto Reyes Scenic Byway , a National Forest Scenic Byway . Before the US 399 designation was deleted in 1964, SR 33 followed SR 166 east from US 99 at Wheeler Ridge to Maricopa in lieu of the segment from Ventura to Maricopa, and followed the old US highway from Taft to Maricopa. Today, SR 166 remains on
420-551: The segment between Wheeler Ridge and Maricopa. SR 33 used to extend north to Interstate 205 in Tracy, but this segment was relinquished after the segment of Interstate 5 from SR 33 to I-205 was completed. When Caltrans implemented its exit numbering program in 2002, SR 33's section of the Ojai Freeway was not included and is one of the very few stretches of freeway in California to not feature exit numbers. Except where prefixed with
441-896: The western side of the San Joaquin Valley . Between Taft and Avenal it roughly parallels Interstate 5 and the eastern foothills of the Temblor and Diablo ranges; for the first 15 miles (24 km) of the portion following the axis of the Midway-Sunset Oil Field . Northwest of Avenal, it turns due west to enter Coalinga , then turns northeast and soon becomes concurrent with I-5 for 13 miles (21 km). Thereafter, it departs due north near Cantua Creek , turns northwest at Mendota , through Firebaugh and meets State Route 152 in Dos Palos , in which it runs concurrently due west for approximately ten miles. It departs again west of Los Banos , turning north to Santa Nella (where it has an interchange with I-5), and roughly parallels I-5 and
SECTION 20
#1732870081271#270729