The Alaska Division of Oil and Gas has received two applications from Armstrong Energy LLC, one from ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. and one from Accumulate Energy Inc.

Armstrong plans to drill the Pikka No. 1 well at the southern end of the Pikka unit to appraise previous discoveries in the region between the Kuparuk River unit and the Colville River unit and could drill as many as three sidetracks from the same location.

The company previously applied to drill the Horseshoe exploration well much farther south, near the village of Nuiqsut (see story in Oct. 23 issue of Petroleum News).

ConocoPhillips is also permitting an exploration program near Nuiqsut, although the program is complicated by an appeal over leases in the area. The Putu exploration program includes plans for one well and one sidetrack south of the Colville River unit.

Earlier this year, the state rejected a request from a joint venture operated by Brooks Range Petroleum Corp. to transfer some of the leases involved in the propose Putu exploration program to ConocoPhillips. An appeal of that decision remains unresolved.

Accumulate Energy is planning a one-well appraisal program at its Icewine prospect in the central North Slope south of the Prudhoe Bay unit. The company plans to drill the Icewine No. 2 appraisal well along the Dalton Highway transportation corridor. The well is targeting the HRZ Shale with secondary targets in shallower conventional resources.

- ERIC LIDJI

See stories on new winter drilling plans in Oct. 30 issue, available Friday, Oct. 28 at www.PetroleumNews.com