Red Dog to be drilled

The partner agreement is in place for the exploration well planned from Bullen Point between the Badami and Point Thomson units.

BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. spokeswoman Carla Beam told PNA Dec. 16 that the partner agreement is in place for the exploration well and that Nabors Alaska Drilling Inc. rig 28-E, which has been drilling at Badami, will drill the Red Dog after the present Badami well is completed. Beam said the well will be drilled from onshore in the vicinity of Bullen Point to an offshore target about 15,000 feet away.

Neil Ritson, BP Exploration (Alaska)’s exploration manager, told PNA Oct. 12 in an interview about the company’s winter exploration plans that the Red Dog is a very low risk well because it is in an area where hydrocarbons are known. Ritson said the well will “provide an additional data point which we think will help progress.”

The state has been urging lease holders to move ahead with development at the Point Thomson unit.