State OKs two unit-related expansions

The state has officially expanded the Milne Point unit to include ADL 47438 and ADL 392703 and created the new lease ADL 393174 through a segregation of existing leases, according to the July lease report from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

The state also approved a request from Eni Petroleum US LLC to expand the Schrader Bluff participating area at the offshore Nikaitchuq unit off the coast of the North Slope. The state approved a request from Armstrong Energy LLC to transfer small royalty interests in 11 leases to its President and Chief Executive Officer William D. Armstrong. The company transferred a 1.875 percent interest in ADL 392004, ADL 392005, ADL 392050 and ADL 392051, and a 4.21875 percent interest in ADL 392003, ADL 392041, ADL 392042, ADL 392043, ADL 392044, ADL 392045 and ADL 392046.

The state is considering several requests to transfer royalty interests at five leases at the Redoubt unit. The Iris Y Stephans Testamentary Trust asked to transfer small royalty interests in ADL 374002, ADL 378114, ADL 381003, ADL 381201 and ADL 381203 to operator Cook Inlet Energy LLC. Elizabeth Bookman asked to transfer small royalty interests in ADL 374002 and ADL 378114. All interests were less than 1 percent.

Several investors (Daniel K. Donkel, William Allen Huckabay, Peregrine EP Holdings LP, Strong Energy Resources LLC, David W. Fulton, Mark R. Landt, Bang Energy LLC and the Moore Family Living Trust) separately asked to transfer small royalty interests in ADL 391094 to three independents (Peregrine EP Holdings LP, Case Energy Partners LLC, Montaigne Minerals LLC). The interests were all less than 3 percent. AIX Energy LLC operates the lease as part of the Kenai Loop natural gas field near the city of Kenai. The state terminated five Alaska LLC leases for failure to pay rent. The Beaufort Sea leases were ADL 392675, ADL 392676, ADL 392704, ADL 392713 and ADL 392714.

- ERIC LIDJI