[14] On January 4, 2018, the company relinquished 5 federal oil and gas leases offshore Southern California.

[15] In 2011, a group of concerned citizens opposed Venoco's fracking operations in the Monterey Formation.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors initially cited Venoco for fracking without a permit, but later withdrew the claim.

[16][17] In the Salinas basin, in Monterey County, Venoco encountered opposition by environmental groups and concerned citizens over 9 proposed wells.

Among the components listed in Venoco's proposed fracking fluid for Monterey County was a gelling agent with a 60 to 70% concentration of "petroleum distillate blend."