Cairn, Meltwater North targets revived from 1998-99 plans

Kristen Nelson

ARCO Alaska Inc. plans to drill exploration wells this winter south of Tarn in areas where the company permitted work for the 1998-99 winter season but drilled only one well, the 1 Meltwater South, located south of the area where the company proposes to work in the 1999-2000 winter season.

The wells will be in the southwestern corner of the Kuparuk River unit. As many as three ice drill pads are planned in each of two areas: Cairn (some three miles south of Tarn) and Meltwater North (some three miles south of Cairn).

“At each of the Cairn and Meltwater North areas,” ARCO told the state in plans submitted in early October, “plans include up to six reservoir penetrations (three wells and three sidetracks) and there ice drill pads.”

ARCO said that a drilling rig is expected to move to the first exploration site in late January with the first well planned to spud around Feb. 2, 2000.

The exact well locations are still being determined.

A proposed time table for the Meltwater North wells shows the first well beginning Feb. 2, the second March 16 and the third March 31.

Construction is planned during January, drilling February through May. Vertical seismic profiles may be acquired; as many as three vibroseis trucks could be used.