Potential well, sidetrack at Deep Creek

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

In its 21st plan of development for the Deep Creek unit on the Kenai Peninsula, Hilcorp Alaska said it might drill one grassroots well at the unit, "pending results of reservoir field studies planned for spring and summer of 2024."

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has published notices of public hearings for spacing exception requests from Hilcorp for one grassroots well and one sidetrack at Deep Creek, Happy Valley B-18 and Happy Valley B-13A. The hearings are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. Requests for the hearings must be in writing and submitted by Dec. 6 at 4:30 p.m. The commission said if no timely requests are filed, it may issue an order without a hearing. Call 907-793-1223 after Dec. 10 to learn if the hearing will be held.

AOGCC said the spacing exceptions are required because the wells would be within 1,500 feet of an external property line where owners and landowners are not the same on both sides of the line.

In its 2024 POD, which covers Aug. 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, Hilcorp said it did not have long-term activities planned, but "future wells will be evaluated based upon current risked resource and economics, market demand, pipeline capacity, and competitiveness within Hilcorp's gas project portfolio."

Deep Creek is one of the smaller Cook Inlet gas producers, averaging 3,078 thousand cubic feet per day in September, 1.61% of inlet gas production, down 4.25% from August and down 16.46% from September 2023. September production was from seven wells, with the majority from four wells on B pad, which is where the proposed grassroots and sidetrack are located.

--KRISTEN NELSON