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Forest to drill west side Tutna prospect
By Kay Cashman Petroleum News Publisher & Managing Editor
Forest Oil plans to drill its Tutna prospect on the west side of Cook Inlet, the company said in paperwork filed with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in late May.
Forest applied for an oil discharge prevention and contingency plan with DEC to drill Tutna, which it describes as an “oil and gas prospect,” during the 2005/2006 winter season. The company said operations for “other potential projects” at different locations within the Cook Inlet area will be added to the plan as site specific plans are developed. Tutna a gas prospect In 2002, Forest’s former top executive in Alaska, Gary Carlson, told Petroleum News the Tutna prospect was strictly a gas play with an estimated 36 billion cubic feet of gas in place. It was one of eight “hot plays” for which Forest was seeking a partner.
The Tutna drill site is in the Trading Bay State Game Refuge, on the shoreline of Trading Bay, 20 miles northwest of Nikiski. Next to Middle River, the site is approximately a half mile from Cook Inlet and 16 miles southwest along the shore from the Native village of Tyonek. Its exact location is Sec.8, T 10 N, R 12 W, Seward Meridian.
Forest is looking at building 4 to 9 miles of temporary road, including a temporary bridge over Nikolai Creek, depending upon which route is chosen to provide access between the site and the road system in the Tyonek/Beluga area.
The access road and pad will consist of temporary construction — timbers, rig mats, or other specialized systems — over a snow/ice foundation.
The company said the “plan proposes to address oil spill prevention and response measures to support Forest’s operation for a proposed response planning standard of 5,500 barrels per day for 15 days to total 82,500 barrels at the drilling site.” Looking to expand production in area Forest already owns and operates onshore oil and gas production facilities on the West Forelands area on the west side of Cook Inlet. It is also partners with Aurora Gas on that side on the inlet. These operations currently include natural gas production from several reservoirs.
Forest told the state it hopes to ultimately increase its oil and gas production in the general area with its drilling at Tutna and other prospects.
The 30 day public notice period for the spill plan began running May 26.
A pre-application meeting with other agencies has already taken place, although the only paperwork available as of June 1 was the DEC spill plan application.
Bob Britch of Northern Consulting is coordinating permitting for Forest’s Anchorage office, a state official said.
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