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Sidetracks planned at North Cook Inlet
Hilcorp plans no grassroots wells from Tyonek platform in 2025 POD; will drill three sidetracks, August-October, with Spartan 151
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
In its 2025 plan of development for its North Cook Inlet unit, submitted March 31, Hilcorp Alaska told the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas that it does not anticipate drilling any grassroots wells from the Tyonek platform in the unit during the July 1 through June 30, 2026, period of the POD, but does plan three sidetracks using the Spartan 151 jack-up. The company said the sidetracks, all targeting Beluga sands, may include NCIU A-06A with an anticipated August spud date; NCIU A-07A with a September spud date; and the NCIU A-21A with an October spud date. Hilcorp said it may drill other sidetracks if opportunities arise during the drilling season.
Why no grassroots wells? Hilcorp will be working to increase slot space for drilling from the Tyonek platform, part of its efforts to develop remaining gas reserves.
In the 2025 POD the company listed a slot expansion project allowing for four additional wells from Leg 2 at the Tyonek platform. This is part of the company's plan to add slots, beginning this year and extending out to 2030, allowing it to drill as many as 20 additional wells (see story on page 1 of this issue of Petroleum News).
The North Cook Inlet is one of the most productive fields in Cook Inlet, accounting for just over 22% of inlet gas production in February, the most recent month for which Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission production data is available. Hilcorp acquired North Cook Inlet from ConocoPhillips in 2016 and since then has more than tripled natural gas production.
2024 plans achieved Hilcorp said it produced 15,477.53 million standard feet of natural gas from the North Cook Inlet unit during the 2024 calendar year.
The company mobilized its Spartan 151 jack-up drilling rig to the Tyonek Platform in June 2024.
Three grassroots wells and one sidetrack were drilled, out of a proposed program of up to three grassroot wells and up to two sidetracks, all using the 151 jack-up.
The A-19 targeted upper and lower Beluga sands west of the Tyonek Platform; it came online in September.
The A-20 targeted upper and lower Beluga sands southwest of the Tyonek Platform; it came online in August.
The A-21 targeted upper and lower Beluga sands north of the Tyonek Platform; it came online in October.
The B-01B sidetrack targeted upper and lower Beluga sands southeast of the Tyonek Platform; it came online in October.
The company also did rig and non-rig well projects during the 2024 POD, including:
*NCIU A-09A (Coil/Eline), fill cleanout at the NCIU A-09A;
*NCIU A-16 (Coil/Eline), fill clean out with coil, water shut off and added infill upper Beluga sand perforations;
*NCIU A-17 (Coil/Eline), milled plugs to regain access to deep upper Beluga sands and add infill upper Beluga sand perforations; and
*NCIU A-21 (Coil/Eline), fill clean out with coil and continued to add Sterling sand perforations, with work ongoing and anticipated to be complete during 2024 POD period.
The 2024 plan of development, approved in May 2024, covers July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
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