The Australia Connection

Local entrepreneur Dave Lappi wins Down Under backing to develop coalbed gas prospect near Houston; casing set in first of three wells

Kristen Nelson

PNA News Editor

Conductor casing was set Jan. 9 on the first of three coalbed gas wells in what could become a 100-well shallow gas field development near Houston in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough north of Anchorage.

Field operator GRI Inc. has been assigned three state oil and gas leases formerly held by Lapp Resources Inc.

Dave Lappi, president of Lapp Resources Inc., is president of the newly formed GRI Inc. He told PNA in interviews in early January that permits have not yet been issued for the wells by the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, but are expected shortly. Actual drilling, by M-W Drilling Inc. of Anchorage, will begin in February.

While Lapp Resources has assigned its state oil and gas leases to GRI, Lappi said, it is still working on a project with Naknek Electric to identify shallow gas resources in the Naknek area.

The rest of this story is available from Petroleum News • Alaska by calling the circulation manager Dan Wilcox at 522-9469 for back issue copies. (Jan. 1998)