Wells in permitting process

Drilling permits have been issued for two North Slope winter exploration wells, Red Dog and Meltwater South, and applications for three more are in the works.

The lone east side exploration well, Red Dog, was permitted by BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. in early January. The well will be drilled from a surface location between the Badami and Point Thomson units on the eastern side of the North Slope to a bottomhole location offshore under the Beaufort Sea.

On the western side of the North Slope, ARCO Alaska Inc. received a drilling permit for its Meltwater South well in late January, and has drilling permits for three other wells in the works.

The Meltwater North well is proposed for a location north of the Meltwater South - the wells are south of ARCO’s new Tarn development on the western edge of the Kuparuk River field.

Two Fiord wells, no. 4 and no. 5, are proposed northeast of the Alpine field. ARCO said earlier in other permit applications that the wells would be reached from a sea ice road being built to move a rig to the Alpine field.

Drilling permits have not yet been issued for the Fiord and Meltwater North wells.