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Newsom Well Watch
How Many Oil Wells Has Governor Newsom Approved?
Newsom Well Watch is the definitive source for tracking oil and gas well permits approved by Governor Gavin Newsom in California since January 2019. Our interactive map displays all 17,138 oil well permits including new drill permits and rework permits across California counties. Data is sourced directly from CalGEM (California Geologic Energy Management Division). Click and zoom to explore oil well locations in your community, including Kern County, Los Angeles, Fresno, and Monterey counties.
New Drill Permits Issued
| Year | New Drill Permits Issued |
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Videos Below Show Leaking Wells
Read the FracTracker report documenting the fugitive emissions
Leaks are visible via optical gas imaging courtesy of Earthworks' Community Empowerment Project.
Maintained by Consumer Watchdog & FracTracker Alliance
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About California Oil Well Permits: This comprehensive database tracks all oil and gas drilling permits approved by the Newsom Administration in California. Our data includes new drill permits for oil wells, rework permits for existing wells, and detailed information about operators, field locations, and approval dates. California oil production is primarily concentrated in Kern County, with significant activity in Los Angeles, Fresno, Monterey, Orange, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.
Understanding Oil Well Permits: New drill permits authorize the drilling of new oil or gas wells, while rework permits allow modifications to existing wells. All permits are issued by CalGEM, California's regulatory agency for oil, gas, and geothermal resources. Governor Newsom's administration has overseen a significant decline in new drilling permits, from 2,366 in 2019 to just 17 in 2025.
California Oil Fields: Major oil fields tracked on this map include Lost Hills, Midway-Sunset, Kern River, Belridge South, Elk Hills, Coalinga, Wilmington, and San Ardo. These fields represent decades of California oil production and continue to be sites of both new drilling and well maintenance activities.
Environmental Impact: Oil and gas drilling in California raises concerns about air quality, water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, and public health. Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance maintain this database to provide transparency about fossil fuel development in California and support informed public policy decisions.
Data Accuracy: All permit data is sourced from official CalGEM records and updated regularly. Each pin on the map represents an actual permitted well with verified GPS coordinates, operator information, and approval dates. This makes Newsom Well Watch the most comprehensive and accurate source for California oil well permit information.