ConocoPhillips applies to expand Alpine airstrip apron this winter

Kay Cashman

Petroleum News

In mid-October ConocoPhillips Alaska applied for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to work in the Sakoonang channel to expand the Alpine airstrip apron in the Colville River unit west of the central North Slope, the Corps said in a Nov. 26 public notice.

The purpose of the work, which is slated to begin in first quarter 2020, is to “decongest and accommodate safe maneuvering, loading and unloading of aircraft at the existing Alpine airstrip apron,” the Corps said.

Beginning next spring, Bombardier Dash 9-Q400 aircraft will be used to shuttle personnel to and from the CD1 drill site. Current service from Lockheed C130 Hercules, Otter, Casa, DC-6s and as many as three seasonally used helicopters will continue. The expansion is needed for when multiple aircraft are at CD1 at the same time, particularly when larger aircraft are simultaneously on the ground, the Corps said.

ConocoPhillips is asking to place 14,250 cubic yards of fill material into 1.3 acres of jurisdictional palustrine emergent wetlands to expand the airstrip’s apron, with 14,000 cubic yards of clean gravel fill to be placed within a 263 by 166 feet rectangular area. Those are the dimensions for the top of pad. Wetland impact dimensions would be 299 by 174 feet. An additional 250 cubic yards of permanent erosion protection will be placed around the perimeter of the pad during the construction season to provide protection from any flooding.

ConocoPhillips’ application said an existing materials site would be utilized for extracting gravel. The product Soil-Sement will be mixed with the fill gravel to act as a fugitive dust suppressant and a soil stabilizer.

The Alpine airstrip apron expansion project will utilize other existing Alpine and commercial infrastructure as well, including camps and/or hotels during construction and operations, which eliminates the need to enlarge the CD1 pad.

The project will also use existing airstrips for transporting equipment and personnel.

ConocoPhillips’ application said it would like to complete work on the expansion by the end of 2020, and that all construction and gravel harvest will occur during the coming winter season when the soil is frozen to avoid the need for building a gravel stockpile pad.

Access to the area for construction activities will be via the existing gravel pad.

The project site is approximately 8 miles north of the village of Nuiqsut, in section 32, township 12 north, range 5 east, Umiat meridian; USGS Quad Map Harrison Bay B-2; latitude 70.3471 degrees N., longitude 150.93107 degrees W.

- KAY CASHMAN