Image Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images 
Oil-pumping is expected begin imminently off the California coast after President Trump issued an Executive Order to resume drilling near Santa Barbara.
Sable Offshore Corp. announced its intention “to resume pumping operations within 24 hours.”
According to The New York Post, “Trump’s order has enraged California Democrats while industry insiders and Republicans applauded the move. But questions remain on how soon will drivers could notice a drop in gas prices at the pump.”
An industry expert believes the order could add as much as 10% to the state’s oil production, or 50,000 barrels a day.
“That’s a meaningful number for production.”
However, it “will take time until it filters into actual products that people buy.”
Sable has to restart work at its Santa Ynez unit and Santa Ynez pipeline “to address supply disruption risks caused by California policies that have left the region and U.S. military forces dependent on foreign oil,” the Energy Department said in a statement.
Operations at the Santa Ynez platform were stopped in 2015 after an oil spill.
Sable Offshore, based in Houston, bought the platform from ExxonMobil in 2024 and has been pushing for operations to resume.
California has some of the highest gas prices in the US.
Governor Gavin Newsom greeted President Trump’s Executive Order by accusing him of using the war in Iran ““open California’s coast for his oil industry friends so they can poison our beaches.”
“Donald Trump started a war, admitted it would spike gas prices nationwide, and told Americans it was a small price to pay,” Newsom said.
Weeks before President Trump’s Executive Order, a judge ruled against restarting the Santa Ynez pipeline.
