Whiskey Gulch project gets exploration approval

Kristen Nelson

The state has approved Anadarko Petroleum Corp.’s plan of operations for the Whiskey Gulch prospect 20 miles south of the Kuparuk operations center, 40 miles west of Deadhorse and 24 miles east of Nuiqsut.

The plan, approved Jan. 17, includes two exploration well sites: Whiskey Gulch A in section 30-8N-9E, UM, and Whiskey Gulch B in section 22-9N-9E, UM.

At the A site, drilling and testing are scheduled for Jan. 1 through April 15, but drilling into new hydrocarbon bearing formations would cease by April 1, followed by no more than 15 days of testing.

Dates for the B site are Jan. 1 through May 15, with drilling into new hydrocarbon formations ceasing after May 1 followed by no more than 15 days of testing.

Anadarko modified the proposal Dec. 4 in response to concerns from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation about capability to clean up hydrocarbon spills. The modified plan provides that if hydrocarbons are found and testing undertaken, then only one prospect would be drilled in the 2001-2002 winter drilling season.

Anadarko has said it will drill one North Slope prospect in 2001-2002 and prefers to drill its Altamura prospect in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The Whiskey Gulch approval is good through Jan. 17, 2005.