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Hilcorp plans 3 wells
Cook Inlet exploration drilling will be done with jack-up beginning in 2026
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Hilcorp Alaska is looking at drilling three exploration wells in Cook Inlet over the next 5 years, along with production drilling and pipeline work, involving ocean-going tugs, a jack-up rig and barges for the pipeline work.
The company laid out its plans in an application to the National Marine Fisheries Service for a letter of authorization for work in Cook Inlet, referencing 5 years of exploration and production drilling and pipeline laying or replacement work.
The first year of the authorization would run from approval to the end of 2025; the remaining four years the authorization would for calendar years through 2029.
The application to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet is for an incidental take authorization, where taking is limited to harassment. "An incidental take authorization shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s)," the agency said in a Federal Register notice published March 13 requesting comments and information on the application by April 14.
In its application Hilcorp said the proposed "activities produce sound in the marine environment that has the potential to affect local marine mammals."
Exploration wells Hilcorp said it plans to drill one exploration well between the Anna and Bruce platforms near the northern border of Trading Bay and two exploration wells in the Middle Ground Shoal unit in middle Cook Inlet, with the drilling based on 2D and 3D seismic and historical well information.
The first well, in Trading Bay, is proposed for 2026, between April and December; the MGS unit wells are proposed for drilling in 2028, but Hilcorp said the wells may occur in any year in the 5-year period.
The wells would be drilled by Hilcorp's Spartan 151 jack-up rig, which would have to be mobilized to middle Cook Inlet and then demobilized back to Rig Tenders Dock.
"The exact start dates for drilling the wells are currently unknown and are dependent upon availability of the jack-up rig," Hilcorp said. Drilling and testing are expected to take some 40 to 60 days for each well, with two days of tugs towing the jack-up and six days of pile driving. The wells will be plugged and abandoned after drilling.
"Acoustic sources associated with exploratory drilling for which incidental take authorization is requested include tugs towing, holding, and positioning a jack-up rig and pile driving," the company said.
Production drilling The company did not include a proposed number of development wells, saving it "routinely conducts production drilling activities to meet production needs," and said all its platforms have the potential for production drilling, which is done with conventional drilling equipment through existing well slots or wellbores in the legs of existing platforms.
Production drilling in middle Cook Inlet and Trading Bay is planned for the open water season, generally April to November, activities spanning up to 240 days, with drilling by the Spartan 151 or a similar jack-up which will be towed by three ocean-going tugs, with a fourth tug on standby in the event of mechanical issues.
At the Tyonek platform in the North Cook Inlet unit, drilling activities are expected to span 240 days, with varying days with sound-producing activity from tugboats towing, holding or position a jack-up.
In addition to drilling at Tyonek, Hilcorp said 10 drilling conductor pipes -- also described as piles -- will be driven into the sediment to support future well slots for production well drilling, not to exceed installation of two per year.
Pipelines Hilcorp also plans two pipeline replacement or installation projects between 2025 and 2029, using either a lay barge method or a pipe pull method, with both methods installing or replacing 7,500 feet of pipeline.
"Each project's scope entails the installation or replacement of pipeline in either middle Cook Inlet or Trading Bay or a combination of both," the company said.
The replacement and installation of pipelines is to ensure pipelines meet requirements of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or, in the case of new pipelines, to address growing consumer demand for natural gas in Southcentral.
Hilcorp said timelines for pipeline projects are subject to weather and equipment readiness.
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