G:::::> 

SANITATION DISTRICTS 

~ 

OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY 

Memorandum 

To: 

Through: 

From: 

Subject: 

David W. Snyder 

Section Head 

Industrial Waste S#ection 

Linda M. Shadier 

Supervising Civil E ne 

Industrial Waste ction 

KaiE.Kuo ~ 

Civil Engineer 

Industrial Waste Section 

Districts' Pretreatment Program for Oil Production 

GRACE ROBINSON CHAN 

Chief Engineer and General Manager 

Date: June 14, 2013 

The purpose ofthis memorandum is to provide an overview and current status of the Districts' Pretreatment 

Program for oil production. In addition, the nature of the wastewater generated from the oil production activities 

and the common pretreatment system implemented are also discussed. 

The Districts currently have a total of 66 oil production dischargers with active Industrial Wastewater 

Discharge Permits (See Attachment A). Seventeen of these permittees are classified as significant dischargers with 

flow rates greater than 25,000 gpd. The remaining permittees, with flow rates less than 25,000 gpd, are categorized 

as non-significant dischargers. The majority of these oil production facilities are located in Long Beach (33%), 

Signal Hill (17%), Los Angeles (9%), and Harbor City (8%). Discharge rates span from 192 gpd to 546,000 gpd 

with an average discharge rate of 47,249 gpd. The total permitted quantity of wastewater discharge is 3.12 MGD. 

All but two of the oil fields discharge their wastewater to the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP). 

The significant oil production dischargers are required to submit a Self-Monitoring Report (SMR) to the 

Districts on a semiannual basis. The required reporting parameters include: flow rate, COD, SS, pH, soluble 

sulfide, total oil & grease (O&G), flash point, and benzene. In addition to the Phase I Local Effluent Limits, the 

significant and non-significant oil production dischargers are also required to meet the total O&G limit of 75 mg/L 

and non-polar O&G limit of 60 mg/L, respectively. Table 1 presents the average COD, SS, total O&G, and nonpolar O&G self-monitoring results for wastewater generated by the oil production dischargers during 2012: 

Table 1: Self-Monitoring Results for Oil Production Dischargers (Calendar Year 2012) 

Parameters Avg. Cone. Standard Max. Detected Min. Detected Number of 

(mg/L) Deviation Cone. (mg/L) Cone. (mg/L) Samples 

COD 2128 1540 6240 50 50 

ss 65 41 231 15 50 

Oil & Grease 16 11 52.2 2.8 28 

Non-Polar 15 12 42.8 1.6 23 

Oil & Grease 

Note. Raw Self-Momtormg data presented m Attachment B 
David W. Snyder 2 June 14,201 3 

Districts' Pretreatment Program for Oil Production 

All permitted oil production facilities are required to be on the Districts' Flow Meter Program regardless of 

the discharge rate, since the wastewater generated is from an unmetered source. Any oil production facilities 

having wastewater discharge of 25,000 gpd or more, and any facilities that are determined by the Districts to be a 

potential discharger of flammable substances are also required to be on the Districts' Combustible Gas Monitoring 

Program. Flammable substances are defined by the Districts as: any gasoline, benzene, naptha, solvent, fuel oil or 

any liquid, solid, or gas that would cause or tend to cause flammable or explosive conditions to result in the 

sewerage system. 

When oil is brought to the surface through a well either by pump or natural reservoir pressure, it is a 

mixture of liquid petroleum, natural gas, and formation water. The mixture is separated using a free water 

knockout tank. The free water, defined as water that separates within five minutes, is transported to storage tank 

for further clarification before reinjection or discharge. The remaining oil, called emulsion, is then processed with 

a heater treater. A heater treater is a vessel that introduces heat to promote the breaking of the emulsion; and as a 

result, yields an oil of minimum water content. Small quantities of chemicals can be added to facilitate the 

separation process. The separated oil is then transported to an oil storage tank for sale and the brine water is 

directed to reinjection or discharge. 

C:IXYZ_IW\Oil Production\Oil Production Memo.docx 
Attachments 
.. _ 

·: 

Permit 

Number Facility ID 

20496 9244199 

20072 9241884 

14694 2015806 

14693 2015474 

12779 1942964 

17219 2112950 

12767 1937042 

5168 1767953 

17218 2110691 

17112 1958912 

12289 1929122 

15206 2037105 

20077 9241897 

14740 2015513 

15181 2037083 

20458 9244029 

15839 1798471 

4795 1682255 

15204 2037095 

15252 2036821 

21214 9247005 

15994 2063313 

15180 2037071 

16612 2065293 

15177 2037042 

15175 2037025 

15110 2037013 

15253 2036833 

16878 2098804 

Attachment A 

Permitted Oil Production Dischargers 

As of June 12, 2013 

Effective Expiration Facility Name 

Date Date City 

LCW Oil Operations, LLC. 1/22/2010 1/21/2015 Long Beach 

BreitBurn Operating, L.P. 12/13/2012 12/12/2017 Santa Fe Spring 

Oil Operators Inc. 1/6/2012 1/5/2017 Signal Hill 

Oil Operators, Inc. 1/4/2012 1/3/2017 Signal Hill 

Brea Canon Oil Co, Inc. 3/6/2013 3/5/2018 Harbor City 

OXY USA Inc. 4/11/2013 4/10/2018 Commerce 

BREA CANON OIL COMPANY 4/3/1996 12/31/2050 Harbor City 

Southern California Gas Company 3/30/2009 3/29/2014 Los Angeles 

Oxy USA, Inc. 4/18/2013 4/17/2018 Commerce 

Southern California Gas Company 12/2/2008 12/1/2013 Montebello 

The Termo Company 7/9/2008 7/8/2013 Long Beach 

Oil Operators Inc. 12/8/2011 12/7/2016 Signal Hill 

Breitburn Operating L.P. 2/20/2010 8/11/2014 Santa Fe Spring 

E & T Limited Liability Co. 6/10/2011 6/9/2016 Long Beach 

Oil Operators Incorporated 12/14/2011 12/13/2016 Long Beach 

Oxy Long Beach, Inc. 3/28/2009 3/27/2014 Long Beach 

Axis Petroleum Company 5/23/2013 5/22/2018 Signal Hill 

J B Graner (Sur La Brea Tank Farm) 11/26/2008 12/31/2050 Torrance 

Oil Operators, Inc. 1/13/2010 12/31/2050 Signal Hill 

BreitBurn Operating LP 4/22/2008 12/31/2100 Uninc Gardena 

Baker Hughes Oil Field Operations, Inc. 12/19/2012 12/31/1950 Uninc Gardena 

Matrix Oil Corp. 9/12/2008 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

OIL OPERATORS INC 8/19/1999 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

BRAYTON-HODGES PETROLEUM INC 7/31/2006 12/31/2050 EISegundo 

OIL OPERATORS INC 8/19/1999 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

OIL OPERATORS INC 8/20/1999 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

OIL OPERATORS INC 8/19/1999 12/31/2050 Signal Hill 

BreitBurn Operating LP 9/11/2009 12/31/2050 Los Angeles 

O'Donnell Oil, LLC 6/3/2008 12/31/2050 Wilmington 

1 of 3 

Zip Code 

Flow Rate 

WRP 

(GPO) 

90803 546000 JWPCP 

90670 532000 JWPCP 

90755 290000 JWPCP 

90755 225000 JWPCP 

90710 210000 JWPCP 

90040 202000 JWPCP 

90710 190080 JWPCP 

90293 115000 JWPCP 

90040 89000 JWPCP 

90640 87800 JWPCP 

90803 81000 JWPCP 

90755 61000 JWPCP 

90070 58443 JWPCP 

90803 47000 JWPCP 

90807 36000 JWPCP 

90803 30800 JWPCP 

90755 27000 JWPCP 

90501 23288 JWPCP 

90755 22000 JWPCP 

90248 21200 JWPCP 

90248 21200 JWPCP 

90601 20400 JWPCP 

90807 15750 JWPCP 

90245 12700 JWPCP 

90807 11340 JWPCP 

90806 11130 JWPCP 

90755 10500 JWPCP 

90248 10000 JWPCP 

90744 8400 JWPCP 
II 

E Facility 10 

8934 1859044 

20680 9244708 

9157 1863120 

2462 1437680 

20253 9242601 

15891 2055945 

12877 1946915 

20487 9243973 

21124 9246580 

5885 1410775 

13860 1985462 

13036 1958832 

15333 2037214 

10291 1890985 

14662 2015462 

13042 1956101 

15176 2037030 

12660 1936484 

14792 2024611 

14113 1987062 

20252 9242600 

20246 9242596 

20250 9242598 

20636 9244566 

15771 2054915 

20255 9242607 

20505 9244214 

20606 9244487 

17093 2106390 

Attachment A 

Permitted Oil Production Dischargers 

As of June 12, 2013 

Effective Expiration Facility Name City Date Date 

LANSDALE COMPANY, THE 7/15/1999 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

Guzman Energy, Inc. 5/11/2010 12/31/2050 Signal Hill 

HIWA PETROLEUM CORP 9/28/2000 12/31/2050 Signal Hill 

ED MITCHELL E 9/22/1999 12/31/2050 Santa Fe Spring 

Charles E Cather Trust 5/2/2008 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

CATHERS PRODUCTION COMPANY 5/22/2002 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

COOPER AND BRAIN INC 9/15/1999 12/31/2050 Los Angeles 

Oxy Long Beach, Inc. 2/3/2011 1/11/2041 Los Angeles 

Asioco 2/15/2013 12/31/2050 Los Angeles 

S & COIL CO 9/28/1999 12/31/2050 Torrance 

FOUR TEAMS OIL PROD & 5/13/2002 EXPLORATION 12/31/2050 Commerce 

GRANER OIL CO (BIG BEAR #4) 3/4/2002 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

BREITBURN ENERGY CO LLC 12/9/1999 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

COOPER & BRAIN INC 7/13/1993 12/31/2050 Signal Hill 

Oil Operators, Inc. 10/7/2009 12/31/2050 Signal Hill 

COOPER AND BRAIN INC 9/28/1999 12/31/2050 Los Angeles 

OIL OPERATORS INC 8/19/1999 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

COOPER AND BRAIN INC 9/23/2005 12/31/2050 Carson 

OIL OPERATORS INC 7/12/1998 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

ASIOCO INC 8/16/2000 12/31/2050 Uninc Gardena 

Finco Oil Company 5/2/2008 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

Cather Production Company 5/1/2008 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

Ocean Oil Company 5/1/2008 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

Herley Kelley Company 5/13/2010 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

O'DONNELL OIL LLC 2/2/2004 12/31/2050 Harbor City 

Cather Production Company 5/2/2008 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

Pacific Palms Petroleum, LLC 9/29/2010 12/31/2050 City of Industry 

Imperial Occidental, Inc. 12/30/2009 12/31/2050 Signal Hill 

O'Donnell Oil, LLC 11/3/2009 12/31/2050 Harbor City 

2 of 3 

Flow Rate 

Zip Code WRP 

(GPO) 

90814 8329 JWPCP 

90755 8200 JWPCP 

90755 7842 JWPCP 

90670 7626 Los Coyotes 

90807 6900 JWPCP 

90807 5000 JWPCP 

90248 4055 JWPCP 

90744 3900 JWPCP 

90061 3900 JWPCP 

90501 3890 JWPCP 

90040 3700 JWPCP 

90807 3142 JWPCP 

90804 3140 JWPCP 

90804 3087 JWPCP 

90755 3000 JWPCP 

90247 2959 JWPCP 

90807 2436 JWPCP 

90745 2400 JWPCP 

90804 2270 JWPCP 

90248 2199 JWPCP 

90807 1681 JWPCP 

90807 1680 JWPCP 

90807 1680 JWPCP 

90807 1600 JWPCP 

90710 1300 JWPCP 

90807 1260 JWPCP 

91744 1000 SJC-East 

90755 1000 JWPCP 

90710 700 JWPCP 
... 

·. Permit 

Facility 10 

Number 

15255 2036850 

20765 9245166 

14843 2024606 

13966 1986623 

20827 9245348 

15256 2036862 

9284 1894551 

15435 2042276 

Attachment A 

Permitted Oil Production Dischargers 

As of June 12, 2013 

Facility Name 

Effective Expiration City Date Date 

BREITBURN ENERGY CO LLC 4/29/2000 12/31/2050 Uninc Gardena 

E & B Natural Resources Management 2/25/2011 12/31/2050 Harbor City Corporation 

OIL OPERATORS INC 7/10/1998 12/31/2050 Long Beach 

WEATHERFORD U.S. INC 1/9/1996 12/31/2050 Uninc Compton 

E & B Natural Resources Management 2/28/2011 12/31/2050 Carson Corporation 

Breitburn Energy Co LLC 4/29/2007 12/31/2050 Uninc Gardena 

UTILE JEWEL-TORRANCE OIL WELL #3 5/27/1982 12/31/2050 Lomita 

POWER RUN OIL LLC 11/16/2000 12/31/2050 Torrance 

3 of3 

Zip Code 

Flow Rate 

WRP 

(GPO) 

90248 555 JWPCP 

90710 430 JWPCP 

90807 420 JWPCP 

90221 300 JWPCP 

90745 210 JWPCP 

90248 210 JWPCP 

90717 200 JWPCP 

90503 192 JWPCP 
·. 

IW Permit No. 

17218 

17218 

17112 

17112 

12289 

12289 

12289 

12289 

15206 

20077 

20077 

14740 

14740 

15181 

15181 

20458 

20458 

20496 

20496 

20072 

20072 

14694 

14694 

14693 

14693 

17219 

17219 

5168 

5168 

Attachment B 

Self-Monitoring Results for Oil Production Dischargers 

Calendar Year 2012 

COD (mg/L) SS (mg/L) 

Total O&G 

Date (mg/L) 

11/3/2012 738 77 23.3 

7/3/2012 861 63 19.1 

4/11/2012 1590 45 9 

10/5/2012 1710 148 24 

2/1/2012 2240 48 10 

5/17/2012 1730 132 12 

7/12/2012 2600 24 13 

11/1/2012 1920 26 14 

9/26/2012 2270 231 21.6 

2/14/2012 --- --- 34.9 

7/10/2012 162 17.8 10.4 

6/1/2012 2200 96 11.4 

8/14/2012 3455 64 12.3 

1/17/2012 2370 65 9.7 

7/18/2012 2030 60 9.8 

1/19/2012 368 73.5 40.9 

12/12/2012 280 26.3 9.3 

5/17/2012 1060 50 9 

8/9/2012 929 48.3 18.4 

5/23/2012 518 31 ND 

8/8/2012 500 28 ND 

1/17/2012 1540 108 14.7 

7/19/2012 1615 175 2.8 

1/17/2012 2830 79 11.8 

7/19/2012 1975 72 14.4 

1/4/2012 3440 50.5 17.4 

7/3/2012 2870 77.8 52.2 

4/3/2012 --- 15 26 

4/23/2012 4100 --- ---

1 of 2 

Non-Polar 

O&G (mg/L) 

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IW Permit No. 

4759 

4759 

15994 

15994 

15175 

15175 

8934 

8934 

9157 

9157 

2462 

2462 

14792 

14792 

14113 

14113 

20636 

13966 

13966 

15256 

15256 

15435 

15435 

Attachment B 

Self-Monitoring Results for Oil Production Dischargers 

Calendar Year 2012 

Date COD (mg/L} SS (mg/L} 

Total O&G 

(mg/L} 

8/13/2012 2510 63 ---

2/7/2012 2335 49 ---

8/9/2012 1615 73 ---

2/7/2012 1660 71 ---

7/19/2012 6055 48 ---

1/18/2012 5290 48 ---

12/19/2012 4345 125 ---

6/19/2012 3705 68 ---

11/2/2012 550 48 ---

5/16/2012 665 38 ---

9/12/2012 530 18 ---

3/14/2012 500 38 ---

7/18/2012 2990 65 ---

1/18/2012 4990 83 ---

11/2/2012 2605 64 ---

5/30/2012 2835 54 ---

9/18/2012 6240 33 ---

12/20/2012 320 67 ---

6/19/2012 89.3 15.3 ---

11/28/2012 3610 99 ---

5/18/2012 3650 53.7 ---

8/10/2012 1345 65 ---

2/7/2012 50 36 ---

2 of 2 

Non-Polar 

O&G (mg/L} 

9.2 

14.1 

40.1 

13.5 

1.6 

8.4 

39.5 

16.9 

17 

9.6 

0 

0 

8.5 

10.9 

17.2 

15.7 

30 

8.2 

14.7 

6 

ND 

42.8 

10.9