Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska has filed an application with the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas to form the NE Storm unit on 16,500 acres south of Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope.
Pioneer has a 50 percent interest in the leases and will be the operator; ConocoPhillips Alaska holds the remaining 50 percent interest.
The application includes a proposed four-year plan of exploration with two wells, one to be drilled this winter and the other no later than the winter of 2007-08.
Pioneer said in its application that while the plan is to drill the first well this winter, “weather, construction and rig issues may not allow this aggressive plan to be completed as we desire.”
While no specific well locations are given, a Hailstorm prospect is identified on a map accompanying the application on state lease ADL 390472, in section 2 of township 9 north, range 13 east, Umiat Meridian.
Editor’s note: see story in Sept. 11 issue of Petroleum News.
