An Alaska Division of Oil and Gas official told Petroleum News this morning that the division has selected ASRC Energy Services as its first choice to assist the division in drawing up preliminary plans for an ANWR stratigraphic well project. (See related story on the cover of the Oct. 26 edition of Petroleum News at www.PetroleumNews.com)
Anchorage-based ASRC Energy was one of two companies that responded to a Sept. 26 RFP from the state of Alaska.
“We have recommended our contracting office enter into negotiations with ASRC Energy Services to negotiate a contract,” Jim Cowan said.
If a satisfactory agreement is reached, the Arctic Slope Regional Corp. subsidiary will help the division and interested industry participants put together a plan for the ANWR test well, including a cost estimate. ASRC Energy will also solicit technical input and commitments from individuals or organizations willing to participate in a consortium to drill the well in the winter of 2004-2005 in the eastern Beaufort Sea offshore the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s 1002 area.
The state said the planning project is expected to cost $50,000.
According to the RFP, the division is looking at well locations on unleased state submerged lands approximately 30 miles southeast of Kaktovik, Alaska, “between the state’s three-mile limit and the coastal boundary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The area of interest is offshore of the Angun oil seep near Angun Point.”
The RFP asked for work to be completed by Jan.5, but Cowan said that date will likely be renegotiated for a later date “sometime in the first quarter of next year.”
