Armstrong Nikaitchuq wells to be on or near Spy Island

Kristen Nelson, Petroleum News editor-in-chief

Armstrong Resources has filed permits for the Northwest Milne Point exploration program the company has planned for this winter (see story in Aug. 17 issue of Petroleum News).

The Denver-based independent told the state it will drill up to three wells, the Nikaitchuq No. 1, 2 and 3, at two locations offshore the Milne Point unit on Alaska's North Slope some three miles north of Oliktok Point. Four locations are proposed: three on Spy Island and the fourth offshore and south of the center of the island. Armstrong said the actual locations will be selected in early winter based on local conditions. While its preference is to drill on Spy Island, but the company said it may have to relocate the wells if polar bear dens are observed in the area after sea ice freezeup.

Drilling operations will be with a land-based drilling rig from artificial ice pads and approximately four miles of ice road, access to which will be from the existing North Slope road system at Oliktok Point. Ice road and pad construction will begin as early as Dec. 10, and Armstrong said drilling should begin on or before Jan. 20.

In the paperwork it filed with the state Armstrong said Spy Island is an arc of sand and gravel some four miles long, protected by spits and shoals to the west and east ends. “All large ice movements and higher rates of strain occur away from and before the construction startup date of approximately” mid-December, the company said. Sites in the area are protected from ice shove or encroachment by “the system of fractures, leads, and pressure ridges which will be present along the seaward alignment of the barrier island chain,” so sea ice will not ride up over the ice drilling pads or build up stress on them.