Conoco permitting 2 Kuparuk projects

ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. is permitting two small projects at the Kuparuk River unit.

The first would create a tanker truck loading area at the west end of Drill Site 2N. The second would create a small staging area along an access road to the new Drill Site 2S.

The DS-2N loading area project would use approximately 6,950 cubic yards of gravel, most likely taken from Mine Site C, to make a 0.72-acre pad. The project would begin in mid-August 2015 and run through May 2016, according to permitting documents.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments through May 4.

The DS-2S staging area project would use approximately 4,500 cubic yards of gravel, also most likely from Mine Site C, to make a 0.24-acre pad and a short road. The project would begin in April, in advance of planned pipeline activities, according to filings.

ConocoPhillips told the state that it needs to finish building the staging area before it begins a tie-in of the DS-2S water injection pipeline in mid-May and a tie-in of the DS-2S crude oil pipeline between June 18 and 30 when Central Processing Facility-2 will be shut down for regular maintenance. “Completion of the tie-in work on schedule is critical, because any delays will likely result in an interruption of oil production through the existing pipeline,” the company told state officials in permitting documents.

The state is taking comments of the plan through April 16.

DS-2N and DS-2S are both in the southwest corner of the Kuparuk River unit.

- Eric Lidji