The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has began soliciting exploration license proposals for an area of approximately 3 million acres of state-owned and state-selected or top filed lands in the Bristol Bay region, north of the village of Naknek and east of Dillingham.
The area includes Bristol Bay Native Corp. land and federal acreage, and the state said that while an exploration license would be awarded only for state-owned lands, state-selected and top filed acreage may be added to the license during its primary term once the state has gained title.
Geologically, the state said, this area is considered part of the onshore extension of the Bristol Bay basin.
"Up to 6,500 feet of Tertiary strata may be present, some of which may possess very good reservoir qualities," the state said, and characterized the area as having a moderate to high likelihood of hydrocarbons, "largely in the form of both conventional and unconventional gas accumulations."
Prospective licensees must notify the state by Aug. 25 that they intend to submit proposals; proposals are due Sept. 23. Among other requirements, proposals must express a specific work commitment in dollars, be between 10,000 and 500,000 acres and be reasonably compact and contiguous.
Editor's note: See story in July 27 issue of Petroleum News.
