A change of name for Aurora Exploration

Alan Bailey

Petroleum News

Aurora Exploration LLC, the Cook Inlet gas producer, has changed its name to Amaroq Resources LLC, the company has announced.

The company was in the news a few months ago because of its purchase of the Nicolai Creek gas field, onshore the west side of Cook Inlet, from Aurora Gas, as part of the fallout from the Aurora Gas bankruptcy. Although having similar names, the companies are completely separate, with different management and different ownership.

Towards the end of 2017 there was a contentious Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission case, in which the commission wanted to hike the surety bonding for the wells in the Nicolai Creek field. At that time, Aurora Exploration said that it intended to change its name, because of confusion and potential misunderstandings about any relationship with Aurora Gas.

“We are excited about the name change; there has been considerable confusion with regard to the Aurora name and the owners of Aurora Exploration felt it was time to rebrand the company,” said Aurora Exploration President and Chief Executive Scott Pfoff on April 4 when announcing the name change. “An Amaroq is a gigantic wolf in Inuit mythology and we respectfully use the name based upon our company’s focus on Alaska resources.”

Pfoff said that Amaroq Resources is continuing a coiled tubing program to boost gas production by cleaning out three wells in the Nicolai Creek field. The company is also trying to raise funds for drilling exploration wells in its Chedatna Lakes and North Alexander prospects on the west side of the Cook Inlet, he said.

- ALAN BAILEY