State reviewing 3 ice construction apps

Petroleum News

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas posted public notices Nov. 18 on three applications for ice construction and off-road travel. The applications, from Accumulate Energy Alaska, Eni and Savant, are for five-year permits for off-road travel, ice construction and associated activities on state land between the Canning and Colville rivers, the division said.

These are general permits, and individual activities would require review and authorization on a case-by-case basis.

The Accumulate Energy Alaska application cites the company’s proposed Hickory 1 exploration well as an example of the type of work that company envisions. AEA said it is proposing to drill Hickory 1 beginning in February 2023 from a temporary ice pad some 30 miles south of Deadhorse some 400 feet west of the Dalton Highway, to which it would be connected by an ice road.

The other applicants, Eni and Savant, are current producers.

Eni is the Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk unit owner and operator and describes the proposed activity as: “Ice road and ice pad construction to support oil and gas activities and maintenance.”

Savant, a Glacier Oil and Gas company, operates the Badami unit. “Off road travel is necessary to perform routine maintenance, survey and patrolling year round,” the company said. “Ice road and ice pad construction will support off-road travel for purposes of routine maintenance, survey activities, and exploration and development projects. Specific project details will be provided in requests for approval of individual routes, as required,” Savant said.

Comments on all three permit applications are due by 4:30 p.m., Alaska standard time, Dec. 2.

- Petroleum News