Oxy Petroleum's oil and gas discovery may be California's largest in 35 years

The equivalent of 150 million to 250 million barrels of oil was found in a field that is 80% owned by the Westwood company, with two-thirds of the new source believed to be natural gas.

By Ronald D. White
LA Times
July 23, 2009

Occidental Petroleum Corp. said it had discovered oil and natural gas in a Kern County field that might represent the biggest find in California in more than 35 years.

The nation's fourth-biggest oil company said Wednesday that it had found the equivalent of 150 million to 250 million barrels of oil, adding that two-thirds of the new source was believed to be natural gas.

The Westwood company owns 80% of the Kern County field; Chevron Corp. of San Ramon, Calif., owns the rest.

"We believe this to be the largest new oil and gas discovery made in California in more than 35 years," said Ray R. Irani, Occidental chairman and chief executive.

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