Icewine 3-D permit gets state approval

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Geokinetics Inc. has received permit approval from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas for the Icewine 3-D seismic survey, the division said Jan. 11. This is a land-based seismic survey on state land some 12 miles west of the Dalton Highway, and is effective Jan. 11 through May 31.

The seismic is on acreage held by Accumulate Energy Alaska, Australia-based 88 Energy’s local operating company, and its partner Burgundy Xploration of Houston.

88 Energy has said the seismic will allow it to firm up drilling candidates for the first half of 2019 and begin a farm-out process.

The survey area, some 40 miles southwest of Deadhorse, covers some 200 square miles, with Geokinetics mobilizing crews and equipment from its Deadhorse facility, the state said. Existing roads, highways, trails and tundra travel will be used, a temporary ice pad may be constructed, and the Franklin Bluffs pad is near the project area and may be used.

Ten tracked vibrators and ancillary support vehicles will be used in the seismic operations, with wireless nodes spaced 50 meters apart and vibrators operating in a north/south pattern along line 37.5 to 150 meters apart.

Crew members will work 12 to 14 hour shifts and seismic operations will continue nonstop.

This is in the lower foothills and DNR’s Division of Mining, Land and Water had not yet opened that area for off-road tundra travel when this issue of Petroleum News went to print. The application says DML&W is communicating with Geokinetics on their planned ice pad and off-road travel and part of that conversation includes the technique of pre-packing the snow to help release heat from the ground, which the division said may help Geokinetics get started on ice pad construction prior to the areawide opening for the lower foothills.

- KRISTEN NELSON