Preliminary finding out for Susitna Basin exploration licenses

Petroleum News Alaska

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas has issued the preliminary best interest finding for two proposed Susitna basin oil and gas exploration licenses.

The division considers the Susitna basin to have low to moderate petroleum potential, based on its evaluation of available data. The division said nine oil and gas exploration wells and four core holes have been drilled in the region, the deepest a 7,265 foot 1964 well drilled by Union Texas and a 13,708 foot well drilled by Unocal in 1980. All the exploration wells were plugged and abandoned as dry holes, although the division said some had minor gas shows.

The proposed licenses would cover approximately 948,480 acres in the western portion of the 1.5 million acre Susitna basin study area west of the Parks Highway between Willow and Petersville. Area 1, in the north, includes most of the Petersville Road and a portion of the Kahiltna River. Area 2, adjacent to Area 1 in the south, includes portions of both the Kahiltna and Yentna rivers. The area’s southeast corner is crossed by the Susitna River.

The public comment period closes June 5. The division expects to have a final finding out in October.