Anadarko Petroleum has high hopes for Gubik gas field
Published Monday, October 13, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Proponents of an in-state natural gas bullet line have their eyes on Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and exploratory drilling in the far north.
The company is exploring two key positions on the south side of the Brooks Range, where foothills reservoirs hold “dry” gas that, like Cook Inlet’s resource, could go from well to home burner tip without processing to remove “wet” gases, such as ethane and propane.
The site also is at least 60 miles closer to Fairbanks, where people are clamoring for cheaper power in the face of record oil prices.
That, according to some, could mean getting gas to Fairbanks more quickly.
A gas line needs a solid, secure supply, Rep. Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, said. He was among several lawmakers who joined Enstar Natural Gas Company officials on a trip north to discuss natural gas issues. Enstar and Anadarko have looked to each other as potential partners, one with the resource, the other with the need to transport it to markets it serves.
“Frankly, we have been talking a fair amount with Enstar,” said Mark Hanley, Alaska public affairs manager for Anadarko. “It doubles our opportunity ... If we can make the economics of that work, it’s great for us.”
And, if Anadarko marks a commercial find, they’ll want to move the product to market “as quick as possible,” Hanley said.
“Having people work on the bullet line that may come sooner than the main line is a good thing,” he added.
Enstar has committed $15 to $20 million to continue plans next year, spokesman Curtis Thayer said. Work on a line is going “hand in hand” with Anadarko’s exploration.
“We want to kind of work simultaneously with them, as long as they are doing their development and they’re optimistic about their outcomes,” Thayer said.
Hanley cautioned that while gas has been found, it’s going to take a bit longer to get a full picture of the reservoir and its economics.
“We’ve always said it would take us two to three seasons,” Hanley said. “We wouldn’t be out here spending money if we didn’t think there was opportunity.”
Gas was discovered about 50 years ago in the foothills of the Brooks Range by crews drilling for oil. However, not much is known about the reservoirs.
Up until a few years ago, exploratory drilling for gas wasn’t economical, Hanley said, adding that although prices are up, there still isn’t a way to get gas to markets.
Last year Anadarko discovered gas in two zones at its Gubik Three well, then made some progress at its Chandler well, Hanley said. This winter, crews are expected to finish Chandler and move the rig to another site, Gubik Four. Meanwhile, Anadarko has acquired a second rig and plans to drill a well on the west side of the Colville River, on National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska federal leases.
While Anadarko’s gas is driest and closest, it isn’t the only option, said Rep. Mike Kelly, a Fairbanks Republican who traveled with the Enstar group.
If Enstar doesn’t get Anadarko resources, the company is interested in buying North Slope gas from ConocoPhillips or another producer, Kelly said.
“Their bet is placed, but it’s not on one square there,” he said. “We’ve got a tremendous quantity of gas. Once we have a way to get that to market, I don’t think there’s anything that’s going to stop development of Alaska as a gas province. That means oil, too.”
Contact staff writer Rena Delbridge at 459-7518.
Community Discussion
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Well, well congratulations DistantThunder, I think they're finally catching on to your fire.
Well, well congratulations DistantThunder, I think they're finally catching on to your en-lightening comments. A thunderous applause was heard over the hills and valleys.
Sigh.
Rena, go spend some quality time with Dermot. Ask him to show you where Gubik is on a map. Gubik is not on the South side of the brooks range as you indicate in your article. Note, too, that driving 60 miles from Prudhoe Bay will NOT put you on the South side of the Brooks range. You're new, right? You've never driven the haul road?
For readers who'd like to see a map, and a more accurate discussion of where Gubik is, try this url:
http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/mar/1...
Thanx! Territorial!
Maybe soon we'll be passing Gubik-Gas on down to SE-AK too.
Polypipe passes more gas for less money much quicker than BIG-STEEL.
Anadarko is looking hard at FoothillsGas and figuring out that the gas formations in the Foothills are broken up into many smaller pools due to the overall geological shaping of the ground. With the open-ground landscape up there it's easy to scatter poly-spaghetti-pipe much the same way as if you're installing a sprinkler system on the world's biggest golf-course. This is a typical application for using HDPE-pipe for gas-gathering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa3M4ou3k...
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dPrwKekR...
All over the N-slope there's little gas seeps..
new aerial spectroscopic imaging technology can pinpoint these gas seeps quickly over a wide area.
Great Opportunity to bring a road thru the Gates of the Arctic and bringing Gas to Anaktuvuk Pass and Bettles/Evensville and on to the Golden Heart city.
three pipe dreams in the pot.my my what will they think of next the gas line is like drilling in anwar it will never happen the native war chiefs in canada and on the north wont let it pass on their lands
mopoor maybe it should be called the Gusik Gas Field
actually most plastic pipelines in Alaska won't need access roads to construct them....
the pipe itself is so lightweight that you can use dog-teams to install 6" and smaller gasline.
Yes Alaska's gas has more work for the dogs too.
Goin' To Th' Dogs... Howlin' Good Fun!
Planning and Zoning Permits are approve by the North Slope Borough and the Gubik gas field is within the Municipality and any work within Gubik are approved or Disapprove by the Municipality.
update------
Getting UIC into the plastic-gasline polypipe biz is a great opportunity to make UIC and ASRC world leaders in hydrocarbon technology, and at the same time minimizing the development impact keeping the Great Spirit of the Arctic Lands healthy and beautiful.
Keeping it Cool
UIC would do very well refitting a ship to make poly-pellets onboard.
Bowhead Marine would have lots of fun doing this in Seattle.
[and I can help with that too]
Distant Thunder, all Communitys are entitle to the gas in this great state and look at village of Nuiqsut has converted to gas and the cost saving to the state is great and this is opportunity to put the state energy assistence to other communitys in the state.
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