On March 1, Jade Energy LLC sent John Boyle. commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, by certified mail a "Request for Reconsideration of Commissioner Decision Relayed in Point Thomson Area F 2024 6th POD -- Held in Abeyance."

Jade is the 100% working interest owner of ADL 343112 Segment 2 in Area F.

"On behalf of Jade and as an eligible person affected by your decision, I hereby request reconsideration of the Point Thomson Area F 2024 6th POD -- Held in Abeyance (12 February 2024 issue date), which appears not to have a related Case Number listed," Erik Opstad, Jade managing member, wrote to Boyle in the request for reconsideration.

"The basis for reconsideration is an apparent ADNR/DOG misperception relative to work accomplished by Jade Energy during the 5th POD. Jade feels that this communication breakdown may have, exacerbated by changes in ADNR/DOG project managers over the past several years.

"We respectfully request a meeting with you prior to ADNR/DOG holding Jade in default," Opstad wrote.

"The Jade principals and management team involved in this Project are the same team from Alaska that invested in, managed and re-started the Badami Unit in 2012 and managed, invested in and successfully drilled 10 wells since then; several of these wells were up to 112 miles off North Slope gravel infrastructure," Opstad wrote.

"We believe, if we all can get together and 'reset,' then we can continue to provide this Alaskan expertise to move this Project forward with the goal of delivering oil to Skid 50 meter as soon as Q2 2025 and an overall objective of this Project coming fully online and producing 35,000 bbls oil per day by 2028, making it the next project in the 'queue' for supporting construction and operation jobs in the O&G industry. Can we confirm that Alaska is truly 'open for business' or is this phrase just an empty public relations slogan?" Opstad concluded.

--KAY CASHMAN

See full story in March 10 issue of Petroleum News, available online Thursday, March 7, at www.PetroleumNews.com.