Elk Hills Power Project

The Elk Hills Power Plant (EHPP) is located on a 12-acre site within the Elk Hills Oil and Gas Field, in western Kern County, near the community of Tupman. The project is directly adjacent to the highly disturbed and developed 35R Gas Processing Facilities and the 35R Cogeneration Plant, both operated by Occidental of Elk Hills, Inc. (OEHI). The 74-square mile Elk Hills Oil and Gas Field is a fenced and secured area. The nearest residence is located more than 5 miles from EHPP.

EHPP is a nominal 550-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle, natural gas-fired, cogeneration power generating plant. The plant is powered by two General Electric 7FA technology combustion turbine generators (CTGs). Exhaust gas from the CTGs is directed to two supplementary fired heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) for the generation of high-pressure, intermediate pressure, and low-pressure steam that drives the steam turbine generator. Supplementary firing (duct burner firing) capability is provided in each HRSG to generate additional steam for peak power production. The EHPP facility utilizes Selective Catalytic Reduction systems for the control of oxides of nitrogen emissions and oxidation catalysts for the control of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compound emissions. A mechanical draft cooling tower provides heat rejection for the steam cycle. The cooling tower is comprised of six cells and is equipped with high-efficiency drift eliminators. One diesel-fired internal combustion engine is used to drive a fire water pump.

EHP delivers electricity to the EHP 230-kilovolt switchyard, which then is transmitted via a generation tie line to the interconnection point at the Pacific Gas and Electric’s Midway Substation. The 9.8-mile water supply pipeline extends from the plant site east to the West Kern Water District facilities near Tupman. In addition, a 4.4-mile wastewater disposal pipeline extends from the plant heading south generally paralleling Elk Hills Road, terminating at Class 1 injection wells.