Winter well count appears steady at six

The winter exploration season is well under way.

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission recently issued drilling permits to Repsol E&P USA Inc. and ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. for North Slope exploration wells.

On Jan. 29, the AOGCC gave Repsol a permit to drill the Qugruk No. 7 well in the region between the Oooguruk and Colville River units. The agency previously issued permits for Repsol to drill the nearby Qugruk No. 5 well and the Tuttu No. 1 well in the Schrader Bluff/West Sak area near the Kuparuk River unit, a prospect once called Rock Flour.

On Feb. 6, the AOGCC gave ConocoPhillips a permit to drill the Flat Top No. 1 well in the Greater Mooses Tooth unit of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The agency previously gave ConocoPhillips a permit to drill the Rendezvous No. 3 well at the unit. With Linc Energy currently drilling the Umiat No. 23H well in the foothills of the Brooks Range, the winter exploration well count appears likely to remain at six for the season.

—Eric Lidji