A California judge denied Sable Offshore Corp.’s request to lift the California Coastal Commission’s cease-and desist orders for its work on the Las Flores Pipelines and its $18 million fine for refusing to comply with the orders. Judge Thomas Anderle in the Santa Barbara Superior Court entered a tentative ruling on October 14, 2025 and finalized the ruling the following day.
Repair of the Las Flores Pipeline, which caused the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill along the Santa Barbara coast, is a key part of the company’s plan to restart oil production in the Santa Ynez Unit offshore from Santa Barbara. Sable stated that the ruling would not prevent the restart of oil through the pipeline system or to a potential offshore storage and treating (OS&T) vessel.
The Coastal Commission issued notices of violation and a cease-and-desist order in November 2024 for “unpermitted work” on the Las Flores Pipeline. The Commission issued a second cease-and-desist order in February. The California Coastal Commission voted on April 10 to fine Sable a record $18 million for refusing to comply with its orders to stop work on the oil pipelines.
Sable sued the Coastal Commission following the second cease-and-desist order. Sable argued that the Commission does not have the authority to stop work on the pipeline, as the work falls under the commission’s permits issued to the pipeline’s original owner. Sable is seeking damages of more than $347 million as compensation for the “unlawful delay of, and damages to, the restart of the Las Flores Pipeline System.”
In the October 15, 2025 ruling, the judge ruled that “the Commission’s factual findings are supported by substantial evidence and that Sable has not met its burden to show an abuse of discretion by the Commission” in issuing its enforcement orders.
Sable said it will appeal the ruling and will keep pursuing declaratory relief and inverse condemnation claims of more than $347 million.
Sable is pursuing alternative ways to transport the crude oil. In September, the company requested federal approval to use an OS&T vessel and shuttle tankers to ship crude oil produced on federal leases from the Santa Ynez Unit, which consists of three offshore platforms and the onshore Las Flores Canyon facility.