Hilcorp plans well at PBU Eider Head pad

Petroleum News

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas has approved a unit plan of operations amendment from Hilcorp North Slope, the Prudhoe Bay unit operator, for a grassroot development well at Eider Head pad in the PBU.

In a Nov. 2 approval the division said the well, NK-24, at drill site NK, the Eider Head pad, is at Heald Point in the PBU. Project activities will include installing conductors and well cellars; installing the header, piping and tie-in infrastructure; erecting a wellhouse; and installing heat trace, power and instrumentation cables in cable trays.

The division said thermosiphons may be installed to limit subsidence.

Drilling will be done either by Doyon 14 or the Hilcorp Innovation rig. On-site components will include pipe, boilers, mud tanks/mud pumps, rig generator, work trailers for staff, a mobile camp and light plants.

Support for infrastructure will be with typical construction equipment, the division said: dozer, compactor, mini excavator, super sucker, water truck, heaters, light plants and potentially an Envirovac.

All drilling and construction is anticipated to be conducted on the existing DS NK gravel pad, the division said, although due to limited pad space, "equipment and materials such as dry mud product, cementing equipment, support vehicles, and rig components may be temporarily staged at nearby pads."

Work is scheduled to begin Nov. 15 and end Jan. 15, 2024.

A 20-inch diameter conductor and well cellar will be installed, and an estimated 4,400 feet of piping and infrastructure and up to 20 thermosiphons.

--PETROLEUM NEWS