“We do not have all of our permits on McCovey from the state. We’re continuing the permit process, but we’re now evaluating whether or not we have time to complete the project this winter,” Gallagher said.

“If we can’t do the project this year because the winter work window is narrow, we would reconsider it for next year’s schedule,” Gallagher said.

The McCovey unit is located in the central Beaufort Sea about five miles northeast of Reindeer Island and 12 miles east of the Northstar field. The Minerals Management Service and the state of Alaska approved the unit in August.