Santa Barbara County approved a test oil well project near New Cuyama on Wednesday.

West Bay Exploration Co. applied to drill about 11,000 feet down for what it’s calling a Hidden Canyon Test Well, off School House Canyon Road.

If the test well is successful, it’ll apply for an oil and gas production plan. If it’s not, the test well will be plugged and abandoned within a year, according to county staff.

The county Planning Commission voted 4-1 to approve the project, somewhat reluctantly.

A full production plan will probably require an environmental impact report, but the test well doesn’t, staff said.

Some of the commissioners and people who spoke during public comment were skeptical of the split process.

“No one proposes test drilling for the sake of test drilling,” one man said.  

At this point, the project is exploratory, “and to evaluate the impacts when it’s so speculative would be premature,” said John Zorovich, the county’s Energy Division manager.   

Commissioners approved the project, with John Parke opposed, and revised some of the conditions: Drilling will last up to 24 days (rather than “approximately” 24 days), and the water will be obtained from an on-site well.

Environmental concerns include impacts to air quality, biological resources and water resources in the area, staff said.

“It really goes against my grain” to vote for approval, said Commissioner Michael Cooney, who represents the First District, including New Cuyama. However, this type of project is allowed under county ordinances, said Cooney and the three other commissioners who voted for it.

The property is part of Harvard University’s endowment fund. The private ranch is owned by San Luis Obispo-based Brodiaea Inc., which planted a vineyard on it about a decade ago.

West Bay Exploration Co. is leasing the underground mineral rights for the land.