In 2013, Armstrong Oil & Gas Inc., along with its partner Repsol, kicked off one of the hottest exploration plays in the world west of Alaska's central North Slope in the Pikka field.
This discovery was followed by other Pikka lookalikes: Brookian topset plays such as Willow, Stirrup, Mitquq and Coyote, which are currently in the early stages of development. In aggregate the fields have projected resources in excess of 5 billion barrels.
(See map in the online issue PDF)
With Armstrong's understanding of Brookian topset plays, the company identified multiple Pikka ''lookalike'' prospects 70-90 miles to the east.
Lagniappe, an Armstrong affiliate company, holding a 25% working interest ownership in a 275,000-acre block of eastern North Slope leases, drilled three of these prospects during the 2024 winter exploration season as operator on behalf of partners APA Alaska LLC (50% WIO), an APA Corp. affiliate company, and Oil Search (Alaska) LLC (25% WIO), a Santos affiliate company.
The three wells (King Street #1, Voodoo #1, Sockeye #1) each targeted large 3D-defined opportunities.
King Street #1
The King Street #1 well was drilled to a total depth of 10,241 feet. Hydrocarbons were found in two separate hydrocarbon zones at depths of 8,130 feet and 9,850 feet.
Wireline evaluation, sidewall cores and MDT data from the well indicate pay in both lower and upper zones in high-quality late Cretaceous clastic reservoirs.
Further evaluation will be undertaken to determine the scope and focus of future appraisal drilling necessary to determine the size and extent of the King Street #1 discoveries.
The Sockeye #1 well and the Voodoo #1 well were unable to reach their targeted depths due to a number of operational and weather-related challenges. Both wells were plugged before reaching the targeted formations as it was determined there would not be sufficient time to drill and evaluate prior to the end of the drilling season.
Bill Armstrong, president of Armstrong Oil & Gas, said, ''Wildcatting is a challenging endeavor. The wells we drilled this year were located 70-90 miles east of older Brookian topset discoveries. Only two wells had ever been drilled on our 275,000 acre land position (one well/215 square miles).''
Despite the lack of well control, ''our regional geologic studies indicated evidence for connectivity to a working petroleum system, and our objectives have potential for very favorable (porous and permeable) rock properties,'' Armstrong said.
''Additionally, the seismic geometries of our prospects looked similar to older Brookian topset discoveries. Our King Street discovery well proved all that to be accurate,'' he said.
''All that said, we need to do a complete analysis of all the data accumulated this year,'' Armstrong said.
''Operationally, this year proved to be quite difficult, and a late start to the drilling season coupled with multiple shutdowns due to high winds shortened the drilling window considerably preventing us from reaching the targeted formations at Sockeye and Voodoo. We will make the proper drilling adjustments and determine implications on future drilling seasons,'' he said.
Any successful campaign on the North Slope is the result of extensive cooperation among local, state, and federal stakeholders.
''Armstrong would like to thank its partners in Lagniappe and all the agencies involved in the 2024 campaign that helped ensure safe operations. In particular, the support of the North Slope Borough, the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas, and the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission were paramount to Lagniappe's progress in 2024,'' said Nathan Lowe, vice president, Armstrong Oil & Gas.
