Phillips, Anadarko open fields in National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska

Phillips Alaska Inc., a subsidiary of Phillips Petroleum Co., and Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Houston, Monday announced the first discoveries in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) since it was reopened to exploration in 1999. NPR-A is west of the Colville River on Alaska's North Slope. The discoveries are 15-25 miles southwest of Alpine oil field.

May 21, 2001

2 min read

By the OGJ Online Staff

HOUSTON, May 21 -- Phillips Alaska Inc., a subsidiary of Phillips Petroleum Co., and Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Houston, Monday announced the first discoveries in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) since it was reopened to exploration in 1999.

The NPR-A is west of the Colville River on Alaska's North Slope. During the past two winter drilling seasons, six wells and a sidetrack were drilled in the NPR-A.

Five wells and the sidetrack all encountered oil or gas and condensate. These wells are Spark 1 and Spark 1A, Moose's Tooth C, Lookout 1, Rendezvous A, and Rendezvous 2. A sixth well, targeting a different interval, was a dry hole.

Phillips Alaska Pres. Kevin Meyers said the results are preliminary, but Phillips believes the discoveries will prove to be of commercial quantities.

"We believe that the five successful wells have encountered three separate hydrocarbon accumulations," Meyers said.

Spark 1A well tested at 1,550 b/d of liquid hydrocarbons and 26.5 MMcfd of gas at a flowing tubing pressure of 1,500 psig. The Rendezvous A well tested at an unstimulated rate of 360 b/d of liquid hydrocarbons and 6.6 MMcfd of gas. Three other wells were temporarily suspended to allow further evaluation next season.

These discoveries are 15-25 miles southwest of Alpine oil field, which produces 80,000 b/d. Phillips operates the NPR-A leases and has 78% interest, while Anadarko has 22% interest.