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Conoco plans 3-D seismic at Beluga Unlike old straight-line seismic lines, mulchers on low-pressure machines will meander, leave mulch, avoid older growth spruce Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
ConocoPhillips Alaska has applied for a geophysical exploration permit for a proposed 3-D seismic program at or near the Beluga River gas field in Southcentral Alaska. ConocoPhillips said it will use Veritas DGC for the program, which would be acquired Jan. 1-May 15, 2007, with acquisition not expected to begin until February or March.
ConocoPhillips is the operator of the Beluga River unit which is on the west side of Cook Inlet.
The program objective is to evaluate the potential for new reserves and ConocoPhillips said the likely scenario would be infill drilling from existing pads at Beluga.
The company said the field, in operation since 1968, is very important for local gas needs, providing 100 percent of Anchorage Municipal Light and Power needs and 50 percent of Chugach Electric Association needs.
ConocoPhillips said it plans to barge equipment and materials to the area and survey in December, mulch and drill in January and acquire seismic in February and March. The company said activities would begin in the north and work south, with program completion by mid-May.
Mulchers will meander Mulchers will be used to clear heavy alder and spruce areas of the program. Conoco said they clear an area 3.5 to 4 meters in width without disturbing the top mat of the soil. They are mounted on low-ground pressure machines and “remove unwanted vegetation leaving fine rapidly bio-degradable nutrient-rich mulch in their wake.” The company said mulchers like those to be employed in this project “are being used regularly in our nation’s national forests for hazardous fuel reduction, temporary fire lines, habitat restoration, urban-wild lands interface activities and pre fire suppression.”
“The mulchers will meander through forested areas avoiding older growth spruce and alders while clearing brush and smaller trees where required, in a manner that prevents long stretches of visible cut line,” Conoco said. “The mulchers leave soil structures and feeder root systems intact. Landowners and public land users see a meandering natural path versus a wider road with deadfall scattered along its edges.”
The program involves both onshore and offshore work, but the company said the offshore component of the work is small.
Veritas will use a 48-person crew which will be housed in existing accommodations. Track drills and helicopter-portable drill units will be used.
The offshore portion will be a small ocean-bottom cable program with acquisition limited to slack tides.
Conoco said the program is on oil and gas leases owned or co-owned by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Anchorage Municipal Light and Power, Chevron, BP, Pelican Hill, P. Craig, W. Buck, L. Micallef, E. Donkel, D. Barr, R. Bolt, D. Donkel and G. Kasper.
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