21 MW of temporary power for Chevron at Lost Hills/Conn 3
Client: Chevron, coordinated with PG&E
Location: Lost Hills/Conn 3 oil field, Kern County, California
Scope: 21 megawatts of temporary substation power
Equipment: Multiple industrial diesel generator sets, transfer switches, high-voltage cable
The challenge
PG&E scheduled the replacement of three miles of high-line power transmission equipment serving the Lost Hills/Conn 3 area. The work meant disconnecting the primary power source to the substation for several days.
That substation feeds oil extraction equipment, processing facilities, and the surrounding operations. Shutting the facility down was not an option for Chevron, because every hour without power stops production. Building permanent backup generation for a few days of maintenance would have meant millions in capital investment for equipment that would sit idle the rest of the year.
The solution
PTS Rentals delivered 21 megawatts of temporary power to the Lost Hills/Conn 3 substation, roughly the equivalent of powering 20,000 homes. That capacity covered every pump, compressor, processing unit, and support facility on the site.
The deployment used multiple industrial-scale generator sets rather than portable units, positioned to connect directly into the substation infrastructure. Diesel gensets formed the backbone of the installation for consistent performance under sustained heavy load, with fuel supply managed throughout the repair window so the units never ran short.
Transfer switches tied the temporary generators into the facility's electrical system. When the high-line power went down the generators picked up the load, and when PG&E brought utility power back the system transferred back and the generators shut down.
Coordination and planning
PTS Rentals worked with Chevron's engineering team to analyze the facility's electrical load and size the generating capacity to it. The company also coordinated with PG&E on the repair schedule, so crews knew exactly when utility power would be disconnected and reconnected and could stage equipment and personnel in advance.
PTS crews handled the site preparation themselves: laying power cable, positioning the generator sets, installing the transfer switches, and connecting everything to the substation. Technicians stayed on site for the duration of the project to monitor the generators and respond to any issue immediately.
The result
The project ran without any disruption to Chevron's operations. Oil field production continued while PG&E replaced the three-mile high-line transmission system, so Chevron avoided downtime and the equipment never had to be shut down and restarted. PG&E was able to carry out the maintenance without the facility losing power.
PTS Rentals has since been contracted for a second phase at the same location, this time delivering 28 megawatts, a 33 percent increase over the first project. The larger scope means more generator sets, additional transfer switch equipment, and expanded fuel delivery.