Aurora Gas plans numerous exploration projects
Aurora Gas has eight exploration projects and one production project planned for the west side of Cook Inlet this summer.
The company told the state that five gas exploration projects will be from existing pads: Long Lake No. 1, Mobil Moquawkie No. 1, Simpco Moquawkie No. 1, West Moquawkie No. 1 and Simpco Moquawkie No. 2.
These five projects appear to be re-entries of wells drilled in the 1960s and 1970s.
The Office of Project Management and Permitting in the Department of Natural Resources said no permits for these five wells are expected to trigger Alaska Coastal Management Program reviews.
Three other projects, however, likely will trigger an ACMP consistency review: Nicolai Creek Unit No. 7, Lone Creek No. 3 and Kaloa No. 2. These three appear to be new wells.
Aurora is also proposing a production facility including installation of a four-inch pipeline near the Shirleyville runway.
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Brooks Range Petroleum Corp. plans to sidetrack the Tofkat No. 1 well based on initial drilling results, according to the joint venture running the drilling program.
As operator of the program, BRPC reached a total vertical depth of 7,703 feet on Tofkat No. 1, located along the eastern shore of the Colville River near the village of Nuiqsut. During the drilling, BRPC came across several zones with “indicated hydrocarbon potential.”
The sidetrack will begin after initial logging and testing of the well.
The company plans to release further information by the end of the month.
BRPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Alaska Venture Capital Group, is running its winter exploration program on behalf of a joint venture with TG World Energy Corp., the Nabors subsidiary Ramshorn Investments Inc. and Bow Valley Alaska Corp.
“While various test must be undertaken and the results of those tests analyzed before we are able to draw any conclusions concerning commerciality, we are encouraged with the indications of hydrocarbons noted during the drilling process,” said Clifford M. James, president and CEO of TG World Energy Corp., in a prepared statement.
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