State lists Miller as Savant owner

In a sign that a previously announced deal may have closed or be near closing, state lease records show Miller Energy Resources Inc. as having acquired Savant Alaska LLC.

In its November lease report and in its online lease case files, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources listed Miller as being the owner of Savant Alaska effective Dec. 1.

By acquiring Savant, Miller owns 19 leases in and around the Badami unit.

The Tennessee-based Miller announced the acquisition in May. In late October, Miller said it “received nearly all the regulatory approvals” and expected closing in November.

On a similar note, the state has approved the transfer of a package of North Slope leases from BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. to Hilcorp Alaska LLC, as part of a major deal.

In late November, the state approved the assignment of BP’s interest in some 41 leases at the Milne Point, Duck Island and North Star units to Hilcorp, effective Nov. 1.

The two companies closed on a sale of those assets in late November.

Also in November, the state issued two Beaufort Sea leases to J. Andrew Bachner and received an assignment of small royalty interests - both less than 1 percent - in two leases at the Redoubt unit in Cook Inlet from George Hanko to Nancy L. Hanko.

- Eric Lidji