Upping the limit for the Oooguruk field
Amid the current financial doom and gloom, it’s helpful to at least find some good news in the oil patch.
And a recent application by Pioneer Natural Resources for an increase to the oil spill response planning standard for the Beaufort Sea Oooguruk field strikes a positive note. Pioneer has applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to increase the planning standard from 2,500 barrels per day to 5,000 barrels per day for the Oooguruk oil discharge prevention and contingency plan.
“One of Oooguruk’s initial Kuparuk (oil pool) wells is performing better than we anticipated when applying for our initial C-plan and therefore we are seeking to amend the plan accordingly,” Pioneer spokesman Tadd Owens told Petroleum News Jan. 27.
Owens said that although the well performance has been exceeding expectations, that particular well was just one of the more than 30 wells planned for the field.
“At this time we have not adjusted any of our resource or production estimates for the unit,” Owens said.
But Pioneer’s 2008 report on proved reserves and finding costs hinted that the Oooguruk field may be exceeding Pioneer’s expectations.
“Results from our Oooguruk drilling are better than anticipated,” said Scott Sheffield, Pioneer’s chairman and CEO in announcing the report.
Oooguruk, the first producing North Slope oil field to be operated by an independent oil company, went online in June 2008. A continuing program of development drilling is targeted at the field reaching peak production in 2010.
—Alan Bailey
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