Redondo Beach Considers Oil Drilling To Protect Reserves

Former Tritton Oil Drilling Site (Dirt Lot) Harbor Dr & Portofino Way in Redondo Beach

Former Oil Drilling Site 190th and Prospect in Redondo Beach

The Redondo Beach City Council took a the first step toward exploring oil drilling within city limits to boost city revenues on Tuesday. Read the RB Patch Article.

In a referral to staff, Councilman Steve Diels, who represents District No. 4 in North Redondo Beach, asked City Manager Bill Workman if city staff could examine whether Redondo Beach could tap into the "hundreds of millions of dollars" sitting beneath the city.

Additionally, Diels asked if city staff could look into the effects of possible oil drilling in Hermosa Beach on Redondo's reserves. Both cities sit on top of the Torrance Oil Field.

The councilman noted that money from potential projects could be used for various capital projects, and even implied that revenues from oil drilling could be used to pay for a park at the AES Powerplant site on Harbor Drive.

Bill Brand, who represents District No. 2. "In general, though, I don't support that kind of industrial activity going on in our town."

If the city does eventually decide to allow oil drilling, it would not be the first time oil wells were dug in Redondo Beach. According to the Redondo Beach Historical Society, wells dotted the city during the 1920s.

Lets not forget Tritton Oil & Gas Corporation abandoned the site in 1990 at 101 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach 90277.

Related Articles: 
Pat Aust recalls oil fire in Redondo Beach.
Tritton Oil & Gas Corporation oil well abandonment in 1990 
Hermosa pursuing legal action against Oil Operator Roy Stinnett in 1991 (LA Times)
Map of regional oil wells in the South Bay.
Is the AES Redondo Beach Powerplant Related to Hermosa Beach Oil Drilling