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ConocoPhillips files for Makua wells Company requests 5-year approval for three wells northeast of Alpine field in Colville River Delta; near old Kuukpik wells drilled by ARCO, certified of producing in paying quantities Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
ConocoPhillips Alaska is taking another look at part of an area where the company’s predecessor, Phillips Alaska, let a unit terminate in 2001.
The company has applied to the state for permits for up to three exploration wells on state land in the Colville River Delta northeast of the Alpine field and east of the northern portion of the Colville River unit.
The Makua wells are proposed for locations in township 13 north, range 6 east, Umiat Meridian: Makua No. 1 in section 16; Makua No. 2 in section 20; and Makua No. 3 in section 28.
The area is in a portion of the former Kuukpik unit which was terminated in 2001 after Phillips Alaska said it would not commit to drill another well by a June 1, 2002, deadline, as required in the unit plan of operations.
When the state terminated the unit it said six of the leases in the unit would continue because they have wells certified capable of producing in paying quantities; nine other leases were terminated. The most easterly four of the six leases with certified wells are now held by Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska; ConocoPhillips and Anadarko hold two ADL 364477 and ADL 354478. These leases are on either side of the leases, ADL 390069, ADL 390071 and ADL 390072, where the Makua wells would be drilled.
Three exploration wells have been drilled in the immediate area of the Makua prospect.
Gulf Oil Corp. drilled the Colville Delta State 1 between February and April of 1970 in section 9-13N-6E, UM. The well was a vertical hole with a depth of 9,299 feet.
Amerada Hess Corp. drilled the Colville Delta 25-1 in section 25-13N-6E, UM, between January and March of 1986. The well was a vertical hole with a depth of 6,871 feet.
ARCO Alaska drilled the Kuukpik No. 3 in section 22-13N-6E, UM, between February and April of 1993. The 6,880-foot vertical hole was certified by the state as capable of production in paying quantities and is the certified well on ADL 364477.
The wells were permitted as oil exploration wells; all have been plugged and abandoned.
ConocoPhillips would build 35-mile ice road The Makua No. 1 is south of the Colville Delta State 1 well; the Makua No. 2 is west of the Kuukpik No. 3; and Makua No. 3 is southwest of the Kuukpik No. 3. Conoco said the sites are on oil and gas leases co-owned by ConocoPhillips Alaska and Anadarko Petroleum. ConocoPhillips will operate.
Conoco said one or more of the wells would be drilled during the winter drilling seasons between December 2006 and December 2011. The company also said that future wells may be drilled depending on the results of the first well drilled.
Mobilization for ice road and pad construction is slated to begin in January and the current plan is to drill the initial well in February or March, the company said.
The proposed ice road generally follows the previous Alpine sea ice route and would begin either from Kuparuk’s drill site 3H and/or Alpine’s CD-3; a total of approximately 35 miles of sea ice road would be required. From the coast, the ice road would go south to the proposed well sites.
Two wells in NPR-A this winter In an Oct. 22 story on expected North Slope winter exploration drilling Petroleum News mentioned the Makua well locations, but said then it had no indication ConocoPhillips planned to drill at Makua this winter — or anywhere outside of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Based on information available when that issue went to press Oct. 19, Conoco was counted for a minimum of two and a maximum of four exploration wells this coming winter — all in NPR-A.
Drilling, ConocoPhillips told permitting agencies, would start in the Northwest Planning Area of NPR-A at the Intrepid prospect, which is south of Barrow and just south of the Walakpa gas field. Depending on drilling results, the company said it would drill one or more wells there.
Then, moving east into the Northeast Planning Area, Conoco said it would drill the Noatak prospect south of Teshekpuk Lake.
Conoco has three possible well locations at Intrepid and three at Noatak.
On Nov. 1, one of Conoco’s partners for 2006-07 NPR-A exploration drilling said Conoco, the operator, would drill a total of two wells in NPR-A this winter.
Richard Dealy, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Pioneer Natural Resources, told analysts there was “huge potential” where Conoco was drilling, and that the wells would be in “NPR-A east and NPR-A west.”
Permitting agencies told PN that Conoco is expected to use a single rig in NPR-A.
For Makua, however, Conoco could possibly use one of the rigs it has working in the Kuparuk River or Colville River units. The company said the Makua ice road system would begin either from Kuparuk drill site 3H and/or Alpine CD-3.
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