California Seals 21 Urban Oil Wells in South LA After Decades of Activism

After decades of complaints, regulatory battles, and community advocacy, state officials have permanently plugged all 21 oil wells at the AllenCo Energy drill site in University Park, one of Los Angeles’ most notorious urban oil operations. Announced by Governor Gavin Newsom, the closure marks the end of a long struggle by residents who endured chronic odors, headaches, nosebleeds, and repeated gas leaks from the two-acre site located near apartment buildings and a school. The wells were capped by a state contractor with assistance from federal funding, preventing further releases of hazardous gases into the densely populated South Los Angeles neighborhood.

Community pressure intensified after AllenCo took over operations in 2009 and increased production while failing to maintain equipment. Investigations revealed oil spills, caustic fumes, and environmental violations, including a 2013 incident in which U.S. EPA inspectors became ill during a site visit. Despite state orders in 2020 requiring the wells to be plugged after the operator effectively abandoned the site, AllenCo failed to comply. In 2022, CalGEM officials entered the property under court order to depressurize the wells — a dramatic step that underscored both the site’s risks and regulatory frustration.

The AllenCo site is part of a broader statewide effort to address thousands of idle and unplugged oil wells that continue to threaten communities with methane leaks and toxic emissions. While state and federal funds are helping close some high-risk wells, advocates warn that public dollars should not substitute for corporate accountability. Environmental groups continue to push regulators and lawmakers to ensure oil companies — not taxpayers — bear the financial responsibility for cleanup, particularly in communities that have endured decades of environmental harm.