National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska Core Workshop 2001

Abstract

Abstract The North Slope of Alaska has re-emerged as one of the most active exploration provinces in the United States. Recent exploration successes, economic benefits of applying innovative exploration and production technologies, evolving industry demographics, rising oil and natural gas prices, and the anticipation that North Slope natural gas resources may become economically viable and marketable through a planned pipeline have stimulated a renewed intensity in leasing and exploration activity. Until recently, this activity was focused mostly on State lands and waters, as well as the Federal offshore immediately adjacent to the State-Federal boundary. The 1994 discovery of the Alpine field (>400 mmbo reserves) on the Colville River delta and the production performance of the nearby Tarn field (>70 mmbo reserves) stimulated exploration interest in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPRA). Consequently, a lease sale was held in eastern NPRA in May 1999, the first onshore Federal lease sale on the North Slope in 15 years. Of approximately 4 million acres offered in that lease sale, more than 867,000 acres were leased for nearly $105 million in total successful bids. Three wells were drilled on NPRA leases during the winter 2000 season and many more are planned for drilling during the winter 2001 season. Results of the winter 2000 exploration drilling remain proprietary. The focus of NPRA exploration appears to include both structural and stratigraphic obj ectives that may include strata spanning much of the stratigraphic column. The purpose of the core workshop is to provide an opportunity to examine