Taking the lead

Kay Cashman

Earlier this month Anadarko Petroleum Corp. spud its first well in Alaska, the Altamura No. 1 in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Drilling Altamura brings Anadarko into a new role on the North Slope–that of an operator.

During the company’s 10-year history in Alaska, Anadarko has partnered with other companies as a minority shareholder. Most notable is its 22 percent interest in the Alpine field.

The company, which holds the second-largest acreage position in Alaska, plans to spend $100 million in the state this year as compared to a total of $430 million spent over the last 10 years. Mark Pease, Anadarko’s new vice president of international and Alaska operations, says this is a signal that Anadarko’s “capital commitment to Alaska is growing.”

Hoping for another success story like Alpine, Anadarko started drilling at Altamura on March 10. The well is just six miles south of the Moose’s Tooth prospect where Anadarko is a partner with Phillips Alaska Inc.

The companies hope to declare Moose’s Tooth commercial this year. If that happens it will be the first commercial discovery in NPR-A.

Want to know more?

Web site: http://www.PetroleumNewsAlaska.com

• March 17 Phillips drilling at Hunter (last part of story about Altamura)

• March 10 Maurer, Anadarko to drill 3 gas hydrate wells on North Slope

• Feb. 10 Producers, explorers duke it out in House oil and gas committee

• Feb. 10 Most bids confidential

• Feb. 10 State receives four offers for royalty-in-kind natural gas

• Feb. 3 Anadarko, Phillips hope to declare NPR-A prospect commercial

• Jan. 27 Whiskey Gulch project gets exploration approval

• Nov. 4 Alpine facilities might be expanded

• Oct. 7 Anadarko will use Phillips’ ice roads to reach Altamura prospect in NPR-A

• August Anadarko to drill two NPR-A wells south of Moose’s Tooth this winter; Brooks Range foothills drilling possible in 2002-2003

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