Latest Inlet activity map has geothermal

Kay Cashman

Petroleum News

The latest Cook Inlet Activity Map includes oil and gas and geothermal energy.

The map was published Aug. 22 by Alaska's Division of Oil and Gas, which is part of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

The most recent oil and gas lease sale is included on the map, specifically the division's Cook Inlet Areawide oil and gas lease sale held June 12, 2024.

(See map in the online issue PDF)

The division received three bids on 4,441 acres from Hilcorp Alaska. Leases were offered with net profit share revenue terms.

Visit https://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/DOG.Leasing for future sale announcements.

Also on the map: Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Nikiski Marine 3D-R7 released January 2024. Available for purchase at: https://dggs.alaska.gov/gmc/seismic-order.html.

The Cook Inlet Activity Map mentioned Hilcorp Alaska plans to drill the Cottonfield 6 and Whiskey Gulch 15 exploratory wells in 2024 in the southern Kenai Peninsula.

Hilcorp also received approval for eight stratigraphic test wells near Whiskey Gulch and Seaview. Evaluation of coalbed methane potential continues at Seaview, the map noted.

Furthermore, Hilcorp Alaska plans to drill two grassroots wells from the Steelhead platform.

Included on the map is Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska, which is expanding gas storage operations by drilling two additional storage wells during Fall 2024.

Also noted is Furie Operating Alaska's plans to drill a sidetrack or grassroots gas well in the Kitchen Lights Unit.

Another 2024 event: Hilcorp purchased the Spartan 151 jack-up rig from Enterprise Offshore Drilling. The Spartan 151 can drill up to 25,000 feet.

One of the geothermal energy notes on the map is GeoAlaska's completion of a second field season of exploration work on their prospecting permits on the southern portion of Augustine Island.

The company received approval for their second plan of exploration on South Augustine Island. The plan includes collecting magnetotelluric data to refine the geothermal resource potential and depth of the magma chamber.

Check out the Cook Inlet Activity map and more work done or planned in this issue of Petroleum News.

--KAY CASHMAN