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New exploration planned
NMFS proposes IHA for Narwhal to drill wells in West Harrison Bay next winter
Alan Bailey for Petroleum News
The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed issuing an incidental harassment authorization for Narwhal LLC's proposed exploration drilling program in West Harrison Bay, in the nearshore Beaufort Sea, offshore the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The authorization would allow the minor disturbance of wildlife from exploration activities anticipated between August 2025 and July 2026. NMFS requires comments on the proposed IHA by June 16.
Up to five wells Narwhal anticipates drilling up to five exploration wells in the bay, with only minor disturbance to ringed seals, bearded seals, spotted seals and bowhead whales as a consequence of the exploration program.
NMFS says that neither it nor Narwhal anticipates any serious injury or mortality for the animals as a result of the activities that Narwhal says that it plans to conduct.
Narwhal has a joint venture with EE Partners for the exploration of West Harrison Bay. The area is on trend with the onshore Nanushuk formation that has proven a very successful oil exploration target, resulting in the development of the Pikka and Willow oil fields.
Narwhal's application for the IHA includes a description of the planned West Harrison Bay exploration.
Summer activities The company says that in the summer of this year it plans to conduct marine shallow hazard surveys, freshwater source lake surveys, an archaeological survey and the gathering of technical data in support of project planning and engineering. The shallow hazards surveys will be conducted at up to six potential offshore drilling locations. The company plans to use a variety of technologies for the surveying including a towed airgun, together with geophones embedded in the seafloor, to conduct high resolution 3D seismic surveys.
Two additional potential drilling sites in very shallow water will be evaluated using alternative techniques approved by the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Narwhal says.
In August and September the company may also stage some equipment required for winter drilling operations. And summer operations may continue into October if open water conditions persist.
The company sees two options for the staging of equipment and fuel prior to the winter drilling program. One option involves the use of an existing gravel airstrip near the coast of the bay. The other option involves anchoring up to eight barges in a protected location within West Harrison Bay -- the barges would be towed from Canada. Equipment and materials would be shipped to the chosen staging location by barge from the Prudhoe Bay West Dock or from Oliktok Point.
Winter access trails In support of its planned winter drilling program, the company anticipates constructing a coastal sea ice trail, with the use of a spur to the community winter access trail in the region as an alternative, should that prove necessary. The coastal trail would be primarily constructed on grounded sea ice. A base camp and sea ice airstrip will be established on the coast of the bay. During winter operations equipment and supplies would be transported using the coastal sea ice trail or the community winter access trail.
Narwhal anticipates conducting offshore exploratory drilling from ice pads between Jan. 20 and April 15, 2026. The drilling of five wells would require the use of two drilling rigs, while the use of just one rig would only enable up to three wells to be drilled.
Narwhal plans to construct up to five temporary sea ice landing strips at the base camp and at drilling sites in the bay. Narwhal may also need to construct temporary sea ice trails to enable travel between offshore sites.
Drilling operations The company plans the construction of up to five ice pads for conducting drilling operations. Ice pads will be grounded using ice thickening techniques. The company anticipates using highly transportable Arctic rated drilling rigs for conducting the drilling operations -- the company says that several of these rigs are operated by drilling companies on the North Slope. Narwhal expects it to take 21 to 30 days to drill each well, including the time required to move the rig between drilling sites via a sea ice trail or road.
Demobilization of the equipment required for the drilling program is expected to occur between April 16 and May 5, 2026. All drilled wells will be plugged and abandoned during the drilling season. In July 2026 Narwhal will use a helicopter to conduct cleanup of the coastal sea ice or community access routes, searching for any project debris that may have been left behind, the company says.
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