Phillips plans lower Cook Inlet exploration well

Kay Cashman

Phillips Alaska Inc. is preparing to file permits to drill an exploratory oil well this fall in lower Cook Inlet, company spokeswoman Dawn Patience told PNA April 17. The “Cosmopolitan Project” is Phillips only exploratory well in the inlet this year.

The drilling pad will be on a private land on a bluff overlooking Cook Inlet north of Anchor Point, one-quarter mile from Stariski Creek. It will be directionally drilled into a state lease roughly three miles offshore to a depth of 7,000 feet.

Phillips plans to drill a water well to support drilling.

Nabors Alaska rig 273, which will come from Wyoming or Utah (depending on where it last drills) will be used to drill the Anchor Point well.

Drilling start-up is expected sometime after Oct. 1 and is expected to be completed in about 90 days.

The Cook Inlet Citizens Advisory Council reported that “a pre-application meeting has been held with the state Division of Governmental Coordination and the company plans to submit initial permit requests in mid-April.” Cook Inlet RCAC will be reviewing and making comments on Phillips’ proposed contingency plan and permit application.

Forest Oil Corp. is a partner in the Cosmopolitan Project.