UltraStar still permitting Dewline well

Although its funding and rig availability remain unknown, UltraStar Exploration is continuing to permit an exploration well at its Dewline unit for this coming winter.

The Alaska independent recently applied to drill the North Dewline No. 1 well from an ice pad to be located about two miles northwest of the Point McIntyre No. 1 drill site.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is taking comments through Nov. 14.

The project would require a 2.2-mile ice road — less than a mile of it onshore and the remainder on grounded sea ice — from an existing gravel pad to an onshore ice pad.

UltraStar would build the road in January or February and drill the well sometime between January and April. The well is expected to take 45 days to complete.

North Dewline No. 1 would be a directional well from an onshore pad to an offshore target in the Ivishak that passes through a potential target in the Kuparuk. The company might also drill a sidetrack with a bottomhole location 3,000 feet to the southeast.

—Eric Lidji