|
Latest plan of development for Northstar focuses on gas chiller
Kay Cashman Petroleum News
Hilcorp recently filed an annual plan of development for its offshore North Slope Northstar unit with both Alaska’s Division of Oil and Gas and the Alaska OCS region office of the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the agencies that jointly manage the unit.
The proposed 16th annual POD is effective Feb. 13.
The Northstar unit produces from three sand accumulations - the Ivishak in the Northstar participating area, the Ivishak in the Fido PA and the Kuparuk sands in the Hooligan PA.
Beginning Jan. 1 through Aug. 31 Northstar Island produced an average of 10,095 barrels of oil per day. In a similar period in 2018, the unit produced an identical average of 10,095 bpd. Both numbers include natural gas liquids, or NGLs.
In a 15th POD review in the filing, Hilcorp said it had conducted a feasibility story and sanctioned the Northstar propane chiller project, as well as started work in September on the necessary infrastructure and tie-ins, which is on-going.
The feed gas chiller project will allow the company to increase NGL recovery during the summer months by holding the NGL separator at its optimum process temperature year-round. This in turn will boost the field’s annual sales oil production.
Hilcorp also completed two well work projects during the 15th POD period, which ends Feb. 12.
Work planned during 16th POD The company did not drill any new wells in the Northstar unit during the 15th POD, nor does it plan to do so during the 16th POD, although it is looking to maintain and increase output by other means, such as well work and the gas chiller project.
In the 16th POD, Hilcorp said it anticipates conducting at least two well work projects, including acidizing one or more Kuparuk producers and/or gas injectors to increase productivity/injectivity and complete surface casing repair of well NS-25, an active Ivishak producer.
The company is continuing to pursue efficiencies through various well optimizations, including the evaluation of shut-in wells utility and their potential return to service.
Hilcorp’s facility projects for the 16th POD revolve around the chiller project with the objective of commissioning it next summer to increase NGL recovery during the warmer months.
That work includes building an ice road this winter for module deliveries and installing support frames, setting chiller modules, and installing associated chiller systems piping.
Regarding long range activities, Hilcorp said it will continue to look for untapped resources in the unit.
- KAY CASHMAN
| 