By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 20 -- BP PLC is studying feasibility of developing its Liberty oil discovery in the Beaufort Sea off Alaska with extended-reach wells of possibly record lengths.
A conceptual drawing shows 10 wells that would be drilled from shore to the reservoir at about 12,000 ft true vertical depths. The wells would have "equivalent departures" or displacement of 25,000-40,000 ft.
An official with the Minerals Management Service Alaska office displayed the graphic at a presentation earlier this month to the Resource Development Council for Alaska Inc., Anchorage.
A BP predecessor discovered and appraised the field, an eastern satellite of supergiant Prudhoe Bay oil field, in 1997. Liberty is in federal waters 5 miles off the coast and 11 miles southeast of giant Endicott oil field.
The longest Liberty wells would be more than twice the length of the longest wells BP drilled from an artificial island to develop nearby Northstar field in 1990.
There was no indication of when BP might seek development approval.
