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Hilcorp looking at Clam Gulch area in 21st Ninilchik unit POD
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Hilcorp Alaska is continuing to evaluate drilling in the northern-most portion of its Ninilchik unit on the Kenai Peninsula, in the Clam Gulch area, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas said in its July 8 approval of the unit's 21st plan of development.
The Ninilchik unit, NINU, was formed in 2001 and has four participating areas: Falls Creek, Grassim Oskolkoff, Susan Dionne-Paxton and Pearl. Hilcorp acquired the NINU from Marathon Oil Co. in 2013.
Ninilchik is one of Cook Inlet's major natural gas producers. Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission data show the field produced 11.8 billion cubic feet in the 2024 calendar year, down from 15.8 bcf in 2023, which was the peak year since Hilcorp acquired the field from Marathon. Through May of this year the field has produced a total of 293.5 bcf.
2024 POD The division said Hilcorp drilled three development wells during the 20th POD, Aug. 1, 2024, through July 31, all into the Paxton-Kalotsa-Dionne structure, an increase from the one development well into that structure that the company proposed in that POD.
Kalotsa 9 was drilled in January, with successful perforations in the Tyonek formation, followed by Kalotsa 10 drilled in February, also with successful perforations into the Tyonek and results not yet known from perforations in the Lower Beluga formation done in May. The third well, Paxton 13, was drilled in April with perforations to be added in May.
Successful perforations were added to Pearl 10, Paxton 6, Kalotsa 5, Pearl 2A, Kalotsa 1, Kalotsa 7 and Kalotsa 8, while added perforations at Pearl 11, Kalotsa 2, Kalotsa 3 and Kalotsa 4 showed no change in productivity.
Perforations and testing at Blossom 1 were unsuccessful, yielding no gas to the surface.
Between April and May of this year Hilcorp added or will add Beluga formation perforations in Kalotsa 2, Paxton 3, Paxton 10 and Paxton 11.
2025 POD Proposed work in the 2025 POD, Aug. 1 through July 31, 2026, includes:
*Continued evaluation of an exploration well in the northern-most, Clam Gulch area, portion of NINU;
*Evaluation of two planned development wells targeting Tyonek and Beluga formations in the Paxton-Kalotsa-Dionne and Falls Creek structures;
*Various rig and non-rig well projects, including: workover to return Susan Dionne 7 to production; coil cleanout operations; adding perforations; setting plugs or patches for potential water shutoff; continuing evaluation of adding velocity strings or other artificial lift options; and additional well work as needed.
Hilcorp will also identify pad work needed at Kalotsa "for future development of the Paxton-Kalotsa-Dionne structure."
--KRISTEN NELSON
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