Aurora to shoot 2D, drill new wells, recompletions on west side of Cook Inlet

Petroleum News

Aurora Gas said in a March 8 statement it has contracted with Veritas DGC to acquire and process approximately 100 miles of 2-D seismic on the west side of Cook Inlet, with work scheduled to begin in March. Aurora, a privately held independent focused on onshore natural gas development in the Cook Inlet area, said the seismic will “better delineate Aurora’s next generation of gas prospects,” with drilling is expected to start as early as mid-year.

Andy Clifford, Aurora’a executive vice president of exploration, said Aurora has “a new well planned for the Kaloa prospect, recompletions at Lone Creek, Moquawkie and Nicolai Creek fields, plus a re-entry well at another prospect.”

He said the seismic would help the company evaluate its Aspen, Olsen Creek and Three Mile Creek prospects. Forest Oil is a partner on Olsen Creek and Three Mile Creek in the 8,101-acre Three Mile Creek unit on the west side of Cook Inlet approved by the state of Alaska earlier this year. Aurora has a 79 percent interest and Forest holds the remaining 21 percent. Aurora said it met its production target of 20 million cubic feet per day by the end of 2003 with production from the Nicolai Creek unit No. 1B, No. 2 and No. 9 wells, which account for about half of the production, along with the Lone Creek No. 1 well, which has been on line since August.

Aurora’s production target for 2004 is daily production of 40 mmcf per day by the end of the year, including production from the Moquawkie No. 1 beginning in June, plus planned recompletions and drilling.