Overview
- Sable began selling crude through the long-idled Santa Ynez system, reporting flows above 50,000 barrels per day and an initial purchase of about 20,000 barrels per day by Chevron.
- Federal offshore regulators finished their pre-restart inspection of the Heritage platform, as Harmony produces about 22,000 barrels per day and Sable plans to add Hondo by late second quarter.
- California is suing after President Trump used the Defense Production Act to order the restart, arguing the move preempts state permits and past orders to remove sections in Gaviota State Park.
- AAA and industry experts say the added local barrels could aid supply but are unlikely to meaningfully cut gasoline prices that are set largely by global markets and seasonal fuel blends.
- This is the first oil moved on the line since a 2015 rupture near Refugio State Beach spilled more than 140,000 gallons, a legacy that continues to drive safety and coastal-environment concerns.