Repsol gets three exploration permits

With a bundle of recently approved drilling permits, Repsol E&P USA Inc. is ready to move ahead with a three-well exploration program in the Colville River Delta this winter.

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission recently gave the company permits to drill the Qugruk No. 301, Qugruk No. 8 and Qugruk No. 9 exploration wells.

In late 2014, Repsol began permitting five wells for a proposed three-well program to continue appraisal of its leasehold between the Kuparuk River and Colville River units.

Qugruk No. 301 would have a surface location almost identical to the Qugruk No. 3 well and Qugruk No. 3A sidetrack Repsol drilled in early 2013. Its bottom hole location would head slightly to the north, following a deviation similar to the Qugruk No. 3A. Qugruk No. 8 would be a vertical well located less than a mile to the south of Qugruk No. 301.

Qugruk No. 9 would be a nearly vertical well located about a mile to the north of Qugruk No. 301. Qugruk No. 9 is nestled among six wells and sidetracks from previous seasons.

- Eric Lidji

—A copyrighted oil and gas lease map from Mapmakers Alaska was a research tool used in preparing this story.