Big Risk, Bigger Rewards: Alaska - Big Risk, Bigger Rewards 02/14/2010
A view from the perspective of a consultant
I firmly believe that any company can operate in Alaska, and I will tell you why I believe this to be true. I have been involved in Alaska exploration for 44 years beginning with the first well drill...

The Explorers 2008: The little explorer that could 11/23/2008
Eight years in, AVCG preps third drilling season in Gwydyr Bay, moves toward possible development
You can call Alaska Venture Capital Group one of the children of the Charter. Formed in 1999 by long-time oilmen John Jay "Bo" Darrah Jr. and Barton Armfield, the Kansas-based holding company came to...

Message from Petroleum News publisher re. Fear Factor guide; Yonker new marketing director 03/02/2008
We delayed the print and CD publication of Dispelling the Alaska Fear Factor, a guide to Alaska's oil and gas basins and business environment, in early 2007 because a new production tax (goodbye ELF;...

Gustafson knocks Alaska fear factor 09/17/2006
Former Exxon executive tells story behind breakthrough successes attained by Armstrong Oil and Gas in 'difficult' Alaska oil patch
Stu Gustafson says he knows what kind of consultant he isn't. That's one whose motto is: "There is a whole lot of money to be made working on the problem if you are not part of the solution." Certain...

Nuclear answer to U.S. energy needs 07/10/2005
A substantial increase in nuclear power will be a key element of solving energy needs in the United States, said former Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham - echoing remarks by his former boss, President...

Fear itself carries a price, says CERI 06/12/2005
Canadian research institute estimates "fear premium" at 45-50 percent of world oil price; sees no change through 2006
The price of fear will likely continue to pump an extra US$22 per barrel into world oil prices through 2006, says the Canadian Energy Research Institute. Otherwise CERI estimates that the price of oil...

Secrets to North Slope permitting 05/22/2005
Communication, operations in charge, simplicity, plagiarism played part in success Armstrong and its partners have had in permitting Alaska exploration and development projects
When asked why Armstrong and its partners have been so successful in getting a standalone production facility and four exploration projects with 11 wells permitted in a timely fashion on Alaska's Nort...

Saudi Arabian minister: Fear factor adding $10-15 to oil price 12/05/2004
Saudi Arabia's oil minister Ali Naimi said Nov. 29 that the "fear factor" over supplies has added US$10 to US$15 a barrel to the price of oil and reiterated that his country is working toward lifting...

THE EXPLORERS 2004: Breaking the barriers to increased Alaska exploration and production 11/30/2004
The movie "The Right Stuff" highlighted the breaking of the sound barrier (Mach 1) by Chuck Yeager in the Bell X-1. Yeager's flight was considered very risky because an aircraft encountered buffeting...

Dispelling the 'Alaska Fear Factor' 09/19/2004
Owner of Petroleum News to publish guide to Alaska's oil and gas basins and business environment in 2005
Petroleum Newspapers of Alaska, which owns Petroleum News, is publishing a 350-plus page guide to Alaska's business environment and prolific oil and gas basins. "Dispelling the Alaska Fear Factor," ex...

THE INDEPENDENTS 2003: AVCG focuses on Colville prospects 11/29/2003
Company drops Sak River prospect, blaming Alaska 'fear factor' on inability to find partner
John Jay "Bo" Darrah Jr., CEO of Alaska Venture Capital Group, told Petroleum News Feb. 6 that his company had canceled its plans for the North Slope Sakonowyak River prospect in Gwydyr Bay and asked...

THE INDEPENDENTS 2003: Dispelling the 'Alaska Fear Factor' 11/29/2003
I share the view with many explorationists that Alaska has the highest potential in North America for giant onshore and near-shore oil and gas discoveries. The facts speak for themselves that the Nort...

North American natural gas takes a wild ride 03/09/2003
Continental markets face grim times as storage levels slump to near all-time lows; focus again on hastening development of Arctic and offshore frontiers
With North American natural gas prices surging to two-year highs in late February, ignited by bitterly cold weather in the Lower 48 that sapped volumes in storage, the fear factor is again stalking th...

Alaska fear factor strikes again: independent pulls plug on Sak River 02/16/2003
Kansas independent AVCG has dropped the Sakonowyak River prospect, but not giving up on Alaska; will focus on North Slope Colville prospects
John Jay "Bo" Darrah Jr., CEO of Alaska Venture Capital Group LLC, told Petroleum News Alaska Feb. 6 that his company has canceled its plans to further explore the North Slope Sakonowyak River prospec...

Pumping up 2003 01/19/2003
Industry predicts a flat 2003 for oilfield service companies in Alaska; but there are some actions government could take to stimulate drilling
Despite expectations a drilling boom will begin in Alaska in 2004 due to Republican domination in Juneau and Washington, D.C., 2003 is shaping up to be economically flat for Alaska's oilfield service...

Access to properties, facilities and Alaska Clean Seas necessary for independents to work in Alaska, say Bo Darrah and Jim Weeks 01/05/2003
Access is the issue for independents, Jim Weeks of Winstar Petroleum told the Resource Development Council's annual conference in Anchorage Nov. 21. John "Bo" Darrah of Alaska Venture Capital Group al...

From an attic to the Arctic 12/15/2002
Bill Armstrong tells RDC he began his independent oil company in an attic; this winter Armstrong Resources will participate in three Beaufort Sea exploration wells
The North Slope of Alaska is where the Gulf of Mexico was a few decades ago, Bill Armstrong, president of Armstrong Oil and Gas Inc. of Denver told the Resource Development Council's annual conference...

Setting a standard 12/08/2002
Boyd outlines what Alaska must do to get back in the oil and gas game; says permitting can be fixed in much the same way access to land was fixed
Some of the "players" may be changing as independent oil and gas companies come to Alaska, but the state's oil and gas "game" must work for all players and it must be competitive with the game worldwi...