Anadarko files exploration plans for Whiskey Gulch

Prospect south of Kuparuk is one of six company hopes to explore on North Slope over next five years

Kristen Nelson

PNA Editor-in-Chief

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has begun permit filing for its Whiskey Gulch prospect south of the Kuparuk River unit, one of six major projects the company is looking at on the North Slope over the next five years. (See related staking announcement and story in the August issue of Petroleum News • Alaska.)

Applications for the Altamura prospect close to the eastern edge of National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska southwest of Nuiqsut were filed in August. Other prospects include the Kanna prospect in NPR-A, just east of Altamura, the Wishbone prospect on state lands south-southwest of Umiat, Dolly Varden southwest of Pump Station No. 2 in the foothills, Pingo south of Badami and K SQ, the farthest east of the prospects, close to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge south of Point Thomson.

Anadarko told the state in August that its preference is to drill Altamura this winter, but that it would file for applications at Whiskey Gulch as a backup. Drilling at Whiskey Gulch could occur in the winter of 2002-2003.

There are two well locations at Whiskey Gulch, A and B, in 30-8N-9E, UM, and 22-9N-9E, UM, approximately six to 12 miles south of the Kuparuk River unit boundary.

The prospect will be reached by ice roads off the Kuparuk River 2K pad and rolligons will be used to transport water trucks to the well site as soon as tundra travel is approved. Ice road construction would start in early December. There would be 10.3 miles of ice road from pad 2K to a split, and a further three miles to Whiskey Gulch B from the split and six miles to Whiskey Gulch A from the split.

There will be a camp accommodating up to 60 people at the ice pad drill site.

The Whiskey Gulch B well would be drilled first, starting in January, with the Whiskey Gulch A well to follow in March. The rig would be down and demobilization begun April 15 with the operation complete and inspected by May 15.

Anadarko will use Nabors rig 14-E to drill at Whiskey Gulch.