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More wells at Beluga
Hilcorp continues development drilling at Cook Inlet's top natural gas producer
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Hilcorp Alaska continues development drilling at the Beluga River field it operates on the west side of Cook Inlet, currently the largest natural gas producer in Southcentral, averaging 47,349 thousand cubic feet per day in July, the latest month for which Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission data are available. That volume is up 8.94% from June and up 19.24% from July 2024.
Hilcorp's latest plan of development and operations, for June 1 through May 31, 2026, was filed in late April with the federal Bureau of Land Management. The Beluga River unit is primarily managed by BLM with the state managing the subsurface of the northern half of the leases. The field produces from onshore pads on the west side of Cook Inlet.
Hilcorp operates Beluga on behalf of itself and majority working interest owner Chugach Electric Association.
luation and execution of pad expansions necessary for 2026 drilling.
*Installation of additional pipeline from I Pad to H Pad to support additional I Pad gas development.
2024 POD During the 2024 POD, Hilcorp said it drilled using Rig 147 with all wells targeting Sterling and Beluga gas sands:
*BRU 222-26 -- drilled and completed in the Beluga sands, brought online in August 2024 with initial production of 2.1 million cubic feet per day.
*BRU 241-34S -- drilled and completed in the Beluga sands; brought online in August 2024 with initial production of 3.9 million cubic feet per day.
*BRU 241-26 -- drilled and completed in the Beluga sands; brought online in August 2024 with initial production of 3.1 million cubic feet per day.
*BRU 221-35 -- drilled and completed in the Beluga sands; brought online in August 2024 with initial production of 2.3 million cubic feet per day.
*BRU 233-23T -- drilled and completed in the Beluga sands; brought online in October 2024 with initial production of 4.1 million cubic feet per day.
*BRU 221-26 -- drilled and completed in the Beluga sands; brought online in October 2024 with initial production of 3.5 million cubic feet per day.
The company also did workovers:
*BRU 222-24 -- coil cleanout, plug, perforations added; added gas.
*BRU 214-13 -- perforations added; added gas.
*BRU 241-23 -- plug and add perforations; not successful in adding gas.
*BRU 232-04 -- plug, cement squeeze, add perforations; not successful in adding gas.
*BRU 241-34S -- perforations added; added gas.
*BRU 223-24 -- perforations added; added gas.
*BRU 212-26 -- perforations added; added gas.
*BRU 241-26 -- coil cleanout, plug, perforations added; added gas.
*BRU 222-24 -- coil cleanout; successfully restored gas production.
Facilities work, designed to maintain and increase production, included:
*Restaging H Pad compressor to increase flow rate capacity at current suction pressure.
*Doing work on flowlines, separators and production headers at G, H and J pads to support 2024 drilling.
*In progress work on Phase II reboiler replacement at H Pad with planned completion by June 1, 2025.
*Evaluation of needs for pad expansions for 2025 drilling; none found to be required.
Although not included in the 2024 POD, Hilcorp said it "is currently progressing flowline, separator, pipeline and production header work" at K, I and H pads to support 2025 drilling, with similar work likely at C Pad.
2025 POD As many as six grassroots/sidetracks are anticipated for the 2025 POD, period, targeting Sterling and Beluga gas sands. Five locations are identified and a sixth will be evaluated during the POD period. Those identified are: BRU 221-24; BRU 213-26T; BRU 234-27; BRU 223-34T; and BRU 231-04.
Well work, including up hole recompletes, perforation adds and rig workovers are also anticipated and may include coil operations and adding or isolating Sterling or Beluga sand perforations.
In addition to routine repairs and replacement, the following facilities work is planned during the 2025 POD period:
*Re-cylinder compressors at F, K and C pads to increase flow rate at current suction pressure.
*Finalize work at I, H and C pads to support 2025 drilling, including flowline, separator and production header work.
*Potential flowline, separator and production header work at D, K and H pads in support of 2026 drilling activity, with other pads possibly identified for this work during the POD period.
*Eva
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