NordAq planning winter seismic

NordAq Energy Inc. wants to shoot 3-D seismic in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge this winter to gather more information about its Shadura Development Project.

The 49-square mile program would cover an area west of the Swanson River unit in the northern portion of the refuge, as well as a small portion of state land north of the refuge.

NordAq plans to use a cable-free recording system to “eliminate the need for signal transmittal cables and battery packs.” The system involves hand placing some 8,205 autonomous Autoseis Nodal receiver nodes into position across the survey area.

The four-inch shot holes would be drilled to a depth of 25 feet and loaded with 2.2-pound explosive charges. The charges would be spaced 370 feet apart and the lines would be spaced 1,485 feet apart, for a maximum of 4,930 shot holes drilled across the regions.

NordAq plans to mobilize crews to the area via helicopters and existing roads.

The program would employ between 70 to 80 people over a 60 to 90 day period.

The state is taking comments through Dec. 15.

Although NordAq has not detailed the size of its Shadura natural gas discovery, made in early 2011, it announced plans earlier this year to drill up to six wells at the prospect.

—Eric Lidji