Phillips looking at one to four exploration wells this winter

Kristen Nelson, PNA editor-in-chief

Phillips Alaska Inc. has told regulators that it plans to drill one to four exploration wells this winter and is looking at sites ranging from the western side of Teshekpuk Lake in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to state lands east of Nuiqsut.

Bruce Webb, natural resource officer with the Division of Oil and Gas, told PNA Aug. 14 that Phillips told agency representatives that it is looking at drilling sites in four areas.

One area is at Puviag west of Teshekpuk Lake in NPR-A some 67 miles southeast of Barrow where the company has Nabors Alaska Drilling rig 16-E stacked on an insulated ice pad in section 35 township 16N range 10 west, Umiat Meridian. The Bureau of Land Management told PNA in July that Phillips staked two wells in the area: the Puviag No. 1, NWNW 35-16N-10W, UM, and the Puviag No. 2, SESW 9-15N-10W, UM.

Other possible NPR-A well locations include Summit, Grand View, Power Line and Carbon.

On state lands Phillips has prospects at Cronus, Oberon and Placer, all in the area between the Colville River unit (Alpine) and the Kuparuk River unit. Webb said the Oberon prospect is in a group of leases where Phillips has a work commitment and will start losing acreage if they don’t drill.

Phillips is also looking at drill sites at Sunrise No. 3 and Titania, Webb said. Sunrise is northwest of Nuiqsut and Titania is directly east of Nuiqsut across the Colville River.

Phillips’ plans will be finalized much closer to the start of tundra travel, Phillips Alaska spokeswoman Dawn Patience told PNA. She said that this was just a preview.