Energy

Trump Officials Direct Sable to Resume California Oil Operations

Oil platforms off the coast of Santa Barbara, California.
Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg

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By Catherine Lucey, Ari Natter, and Nathan Risser

March 13, 2026 at 9:26 PM UTC

The Trump administration on Friday took action to clear the way for oil production off the California coast in a bid to ease the global fuel pressures created by the war with Iran.

The announcement by Energy Secretary Chris Wright follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Friday and directs Sable Offshore Corp., a Houston-based company, to begin restoring operations for the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline System in California.