Midway Sunset Operations

The oilfield operations of Aera Energy LLC in the Midway Sunset Field in southwestern Kern County are centered in the company’s North Midway Sunset Unit and South Midway Sunset Unit. Aera is the largest operator in the Midway Sunset Field, which is the largest producing oilfield in the lower 48 states.

The North Midway Sunset Unit is located along Highway 33 surrounding the town of Fellows. Oil production averages 14,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD). Aera’s South Midway Sunset Unit is located between Taft and Maricopa. The unit produces a daily average of 16,000 BOPD.

In 2004 North Midway Sunset won the prestigious North American Maintenance Excellence (NAME) Award for its maintenance and reliability program and results. Aera is the first exploration and production company to win the award previously given only to manufacturing organizations, and North Midway Sunset is the second Aera unit to earn the honor. In the manufacturing industry, the NAME Award has been compared to the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.

Employees assigned to Aera’s North and South Midway Sunset Units are actively involved in the local community. Community activities include partnerships with Roosevelt Elementary School and the Taft Union High School Oil -Technology Academy, and a holiday outreach program that provides food baskets and gifts to dozens of needy families. Employees have also adopted a two-mile stretch of Highway 33.