# VENOCO, INC — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520082001W
- **title:** VENOCO, INC — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2008-05-07
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 192.463(a).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520082001w.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520082001w.md
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- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520082001W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving VENOCO, INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.463(a). The case was opened on 2008-05-07 and is reported as closed as of 2008-05-07. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520082001W_warning letter_05072008.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520082001W/520082001W_warning%20letter_05072008.pdf

520082001w_warning letter_05072008_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520082001W/520082001w_warning%20letter_05072008_text.pdf

520082001w_warning letter_05072008_text.pdf

o
U. S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration
12300 W Dakota Ave, Suite 110
Lakewood, CO 80228
WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT RK UKSTKD
May 7, 2008
Mr. Keith Wenal
Manager
Venoco Inc.
6267 Carpinteria Avenue
Carpinteria, CA 93013
CPF 5-2008-2001W
Dear Mr. Wenal:
On March 10, 2008, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected your
procedures and records for pipeline facilities in Carpinteria, California.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the
probable violation is:
$192. 463 External corrosion control: Cathodic protection
(a) Each cathodic protection system required by this subpart must provide a level
of cathodic protection that complies with one or more of the applicable criteria
contained in Appendix D of this part.
On November 10, 2007, Venoco conducted an annual cathodic protection (CP) Survey
on the Platform Grace pipelines. Venoco's contractor, FarWest, used a Silver/Silver
Chloride reference cell to measure CP levels on the steel gas pipelines. The criterion for
CP of steel in seawater is that it must be polarized to at least -800 mv versus this type of
reference cell. The pipeline was polarized to only -763 mv indicating inadequate CP.



Under 49 United States Code, $ 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100, 000
for each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of $1, 000, 000 for any
related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents
involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty
assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item(s) identified in this
letter. Failure to do so will result in Venoco Inc. being subject to additional enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to
CPF 5-200S-2001W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement
action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your
responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U. S. C. 552(b), along with the
complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions
you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe
the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U. S. C. 552(b).
Sincerely,
C
' oidal
Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 F. Monfared (¹120752)
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- **body characters:** 3506
