88 Energy has provided an update on its recently consolidated South Prudhoe acreage position on Alaska's North Slope (100% working interest, 16.7% royalty). The South Prudhoe lease position covers approx. 52,269 acres within one of the most prolific hydrocarbon fairways on the North Slope, immediately south of the Prudhoe Bay Unit and Kuparuk River Unit.
Permitting and planning activities have commenced for the high-impact, multi-zone Augusta-1 exploration well, located within the North-West Lease Area of the South Prudhoe Project. Permitting will include three potential drilling locations: ensuring maximum optionality for potential farmout partners, appraisal drilling in the event of discovery success, and optimisation of the well location to incorporate the shallow Brookian potential currently under assessment.
Highlights
- Data-driven approach identifies multiple prospects, including the high-confidence Augusta-1 prospect, within six months of the November 2025 lease award.
- Augusta-1 is positioned adjacent to existing oil discoveries and producing fields and is designed to test the high-quality, stacked Ivishak and Kuparuk reservoirs.
- Potential to unlock 64MMbbls (2U, gross unrisked) from the Ivishak and Kuparuk reservoirs alone[1] [2] (refer to Table 1).
- Additional Brookian upside, under review, is expected to be incorporated into the final well location.
- Three drilling locations to be permitted, ensuring maximum technical and commercial flexibility.
- Negotiations with rig providers have commenced ahead of a targeted spud in Q1 CY2027[3].
- Farm-out discussions underway, with multiple parties currently active in the data room.
Table 1: South Prudhoe Prospective Resource estimate, Augusta-1 Prospect
|
South Prudhoe |
Hub |
Reservoir2 |
Unrisked Prospective Oil and NGLs Resources (MMbbls)1,2 |
||||
|
Probabilistic Method |
|
|
Low (1U) |
Best (2U) |
High (3U) |
MEAN |
GCOS3 |
|
Augusta |
N-W |
Iv, Kup |
45.2 |
64.4 |
91.3 |
66.7 |
48% |
Augusta-1 Exploration Well
88 Energy's Augusta Prospect represents a high-impact, multi-zone opportunity within the North-West Lease Area of the South Prudhoe Project. The planned Augusta-1 exploration well is set to be drilled adjacent to existing oil discoveries and producing fields and is designed to test the high-quality stacked Ivishak and Kuparuk reservoirs. These target reservoirs have been estimated to host a combined 2U gross unrisked Prospective Resource of 64 MMbbls1,2.
Augusta is the highest-priority target within the Company's portfolio because it represents a material, relatively low-risk and near-term value creation opportunity. Location selection and well planning are supported by well-defined structural traps and seismic amplitude anomalies consistent with proven nearby reservoirs.
Permitting and planning activities are underway, with the three potential drilling locations offering clear access pathways. This provides flexibility for farm-out structuring, potential future appraisal drilling following success and optimisation to incorporate shallower Brookian targets currently under evaluation. Final well location selection for Augusta-1 is expected by mid-2026.
Advanced discussions are underway with drill rig providers, with the Company expecting to secure a drill rig contract in Q2 2026, ahead of the planned winter drilling window in Q1 CY2027.
Drilling the Augusta-1 well remains subject to securing funding, including completion of the current farm-out process, which is targeted for Q3 CY2026. Multiple parties are currently evaluating the opportunity following launch of the process in late-February 2026.
South Prudhoe Advancement Schedule
Ongoing workstreams and key next steps include:
- Brookian upside assessment: Recently acquired Schrader Bluff 3D seismic data will support full evaluation and resource definition of further prospectivity within the Brookian sequence.
- Secure key long lead items and execute rig contract to ensure project schedule remains intact ahead of the planned Q1 2027 spud.
- Advanced Augusta-1 planning: Continued detailed well design, engineering and operational planning.
- Farm-out and strategic partnering: Targeting funding support for drilling and appraisal activities while retaining meaningful exposure to a potentially material development opportunity.
Source: 88 Energy
