AOGCC releases two Qugruk well files

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has released public well files for the Qugruk No. 9 well and Qugruk No. 9A sidetrack drilled by Armstrong Oil & Gas Inc.

Through its partner Repsol E&P USA Inc., Armstrong drilled the two exploration wells during its 2014-15 winter exploration campaign in the region between the Kuparuk River unit and Colville River unit, which has since come to be known as the Pikka unit.

The joint venture later announced major discoveries in the region. In a letter to the commission in early May, Armstrong initially requested extended confidentiality on “a large group of wells in the Pikka area,” according to the files. But the company later narrowed its list to a single well, the Qugruk No. 7. Without an extension, well files automatically become public two years after the completion of drilling activities.

The well files can be found at http://doa.alaska.gov/ogc/publicdb.html. The Qugruk No. 9 well is available under permit number 214-201 and Qugruk No. 9A under 205-061.

Repsol E&P USA Inc. drilled Qugruk No. 9 and No. 9A during the 2014-2015 winter season, as part of a multiyear exploration program on the North Slope. The company was operating the program on behalf of a joint venture with Armstrong Oil & Gas Inc. and GMT Exploration Co. Inc. After announcing a series of discoveries in the region, the joint venture reorganized, with Armstrong becoming the operator and major owner.

In the same winter, Repsol also drilled the Qugruk No. 8 and Qugruk No. 301 wells in the Pikka unit region. The commission is expected to release those wells files soon. Qugruk No. 8 will be available under permit 214-199 and Qugruk No. 301 under permit 214-200.

- ERIC LIDJI