U.S. Energy Secretary Directs Texas Oil Company To Restore Operations Off California

CBS Bay Area

March 16, 2026

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed a Texas-based oil and gas company Friday to restore operations in waters off Southern California that were damaged by a 2015 oil spill, invoking the Defense Production Act.

Restoring Sable Offshore Corp.'s Santa Ynez unit and pipeline off Santa Barbara aims to address supply disruption risks, according to a department news release. The unit includes three rigs in federal waters, offshore and onshore pipelines, and the Las Flores Canyon Processing Facility. The facility can produce about 50,000 barrels of oil per day and would replace nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude each month, officials said.

"The Trump Administration remains committed to putting all Americans and their energy security first," Wright said in a statement. "Unfortunately, some state leaders have not adhered to those same principles, with potentially disastrous consequences not just for their residents, but also our national security. Today's order will strengthen America's oil supply and restore a pipeline system vital to our national security and defense, ensuring that West Coast military installations have the reliable energy critical to military readiness."

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