California Judge Says Sable Offshore Broke Pipeline Court Order

A California judge ruled Sable Offshore violated a 2020 court order by reopening a pipeline without state permission.

Judge Donna Geck ruled on April 17, 2026, that Sable Offshore Corp. breached a legal agreement from 2020 by restarting the Santa Barbara oil pipeline without mandatory state approval. The court order stemmed from a settlement after the 2015 Refugio State Beach oil spill, which established strict safety and corrosion standards. Under the decree, companies were required to obtain state-issued waivers before reopening the pipeline, ensuring state review of updated operating practices (full consent decree).

• Sable resumed pipeline operations in early 2026, citing a federal executive order under the Defense Production Act requiring petroleum production to address national supply concerns.
• Despite a 2025 federal move to reclassify the pipeline as interstate, Judge Geck affirmed that state-level permits and oversight remain required under the prior court settlement (KCBX coverage).
• Environmental advocates, including the Center for Biological Diversity’s Julie Teel Simmonds, welcomed the decision, emphasizing the safeguarding of prior injunctions as a check on operations without oversight.

Legal experts say this decision directly affects how energy infrastructure operators must approach compliance and risk when federal and state directives diverge. The case signals courts will enforce settlement terms even against the backdrop of federal emergency actions. For legal departments, this reinforces the importance of monitoring both federal orders and ongoing state obligations in high-stakes regulatory environments.

Yes, but: Sable Offshore claims it faces conflicting directives from state courts and federal authorities, creating operational uncertainty.

What's next: Sable is expected to appeal Judge Geck’s ruling, extending the legal dispute over pipeline restart authority.