Request for Yukon Flats proposal comments

Petroleum News

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas issued a notice of intent to evaluate an oil and gas exploration license proposal and a request for comments on Aug. 20. The division originally posted the proposal, asking for other proposals and comments, on June 18. In its Aug. 20 notice the division said no competing proposals were received in the initial public comment period and said it was now able to more clearly describe the boundaries of the proposed exploration area and identify the applicant as Hilcorp Alaska LLC.

(See map in the online issue PDF)

The division is again requesting comments on exploration for oil and gas resources within the solicitation area, with comments due by 5 p.m. Sept. 22.

The new map shows no state acreage within the proposed exploration license area, but the division said the state "owns the mineral estate primarily under navigable waterways in this area, and the ongoing exploration work is occurring on privately owned land in this region."

This is an area where Hilcorp has been exploring under an agreement with the regional Native corporation, Doyon Ltd.

Hilcorp received a drilling permit for the Canvasback 4A in the Yukon Flats from the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on Aug. 4.

See story with background on exploration in this area and Hilcorp's recent work in the June 8 issue of Petroleum News.

--Petroleum News