Accumulate brings rig to Icewine

Accumulate Energy Ltd. has mobilized a rig at its Icewine prospect.

The local subsidiary of Australian independent 88 Energy Ltd. announced on March 21 that the Doyon Arctic Fox rig had arrived at the Icewine No. 2 well site at the Franklin Bluffs pad. The company expects to begin drilling the onshore appraisal well in April.

Drilling crews have already set the conductor and were installing the cellar at the time of the announcement. Accumulate still needs some equipment, as well as final permitting, such as a drilling permit from the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

The well is designed to follow up on both conventional and unconventional targets along the trans-Alaska oil pipeline corridor, south of the Prudhoe Bay unit. The company expects to stimulate and flow test the HRZ shale formation in June or July of this year.

88 Energy is partnering on the project with Burgundy Xploration Inc.

The Arctic Fox rig is having a busy season, having recently finished drilling activity for Armstrong Energy Inc. at the Horseshoe exploration project near the Colville River.

- ERIC LIDJI