Hilcorp permits test wells in its southern Kenai Peninsula program

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Hilcorp Alaska applied for a lease plan of operations for a program of stratigraphic test wells on the southern Kenai Peninsula (see story in June 12 issue of Petroleum News) and has begun permitting the wells. Hilcorp said in its lease plan of operations that the work is planned for this summer, June through August.

The company said in its lease plan of operations that it anticipates 18 stratigraphic test wells, seven on state subsurface leases and 11 on private surface lands and subsurface mineral estates, with the seven wells on state subsurface included in the lease plan of operations application.

This part of a continuing program of exploration: “Hilcorp and its contractors have successfully completed 28 identical stratigraphic test wells in the southern Kenai Peninsula area since 2017,” the company said in its June 1 application to the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas.

The area indicated for the tests straddles the southern Kenai Peninsula coast - more onshore than offshore. It includes the southern tip of the Ninilchik unit in the north and most of the Seaview unit on the southern end.

The wells permitted with the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission include 10 stratigraphic tests and one service well - Cottonfield Nos. 1-5 and 9-14. AOGCC approved the permits June 7. All are shown as exploratory. None of these wells are on state oil and gas leases.

The 11 wells with AOGCC drilling permits are all in section 3 south, range 14 west or range 15 west of the Seward Meridian.

Four of the wells are on Alaska Department of Transportation right of way; two are on Kenai Peninsula Borough right of way; one on Kenai Peninsula Borough land; and four on private land.

The locations are generally east of the Cosmopolitan unit.

- KRISTEN NELSON