ExxonMobil's Point Thomson field on the North Slope is expected start condensate production by May 1, with a startup deadline of mid-May, Corri Feige, director of Alaska's Division of Oil and Gas, told the Alaska House Resources Committee yesterday. Feige was presenting an overview of the current status of Alaska's oil and gas industry, and noted several significant activities.
Feige said that Caelus Energy has completed the first of its exploration wells in Smith Bay and is now drilling the second well planned for this winter's exploration season.
Repsol and Armstrong Oil & Gas have started the National Environmental Policy Act review for a proposed development in the Pikka unit, between the Kuparuk River and Alpine fields. Production from that development would likely come on line in five to seven years, Feige said.
AEX, a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corp., is drilling its Placer No. 3 exploration well in the central North Slope to the south of Oooguruk.
Great Bear Petroleum is conducting a further large 3-D seismic survey in its acreage south of Prudhoe Bay, but has postponed the re-entry of its Alkaid No. 1 well from this year until 2017, following Gov. Walker's 2015 tax credit veto, Feige said.
And Accumulate Energy, having drilled its Icewine no 1 well, at Franklin Bluffs on the Dalton Highway, is now preparing to start a seismic survey in its leases.
- ALAN BAILEY
See story in Feb. 28 issue, available online Friday, Feb. 26 at www.PetroleumNews.com
