Pantheon Resources, the oil and gas company developing the Kodiak and Ahpun projects near pipeline and transportation infrastructure on Alaska's North Slope, has announced the timing of the hydraulic fracture stimulation and associated well testing for the Dubhe-1 well.
Key Points
- Equipment currently being mobilised to the Dubhe pad from locations in Alaska and Canada
- A hydraulic fracture stimulation is scheduled on or around the week commencing September 29th and is estimated to take approximately two weeks to execute
- Production testing at the Dubhe-1 well is expected to take place thereafter utilising a temporary production system
Completion Details
As previously announced, the Dubhe-1 horizontal lateral was successfully drilled and logged to a total measured depth ('MD') of 15,800 ft, of which c.5,200 ft was entirely within the SMD-B target reservoir. This exceeded the pre-drill targeted length of 3000-4000 ft. Subsequently, production casing was successfully installed and cemented throughout the horizontal lateral and back to surface.
The stimulation is being led by Element Technical Services Inc, an established hydraulic horsepower service provider operating throughout Canada and Northern United States. As a new entrant to the North Slope of Alaska service sector, Element was selected for its expertise and efficiency conducting similar operations in remote and cold weather climates.
The completion is a plug and perforate, hydraulically fractured and sand propped, stimulation. Following the stimulation, a coiled tubing unit will drill out the plugs separating these stages, and production tubing will be installed into the well. This operation will likely encompass approximately two weeks in total subject to final approval by the State of Alaska.
Following completion, the well will be flow tested through a temporary production system. It is anticipated that the well will initially produce primarily injected water for a period of up to ten days (the cleanup phase) before any sustainable hydrocarbon volumes can be observed. Given the importance of the data collected from this well for future development decisions, the Company is planning to flow test this well for an extended period.
Erich Krumanocker, Chief Development Officer, said: 'The team has done an excellent job drilling, and most recently, setting casing in this key well appraising our primary Ahpun reservoir (the SMD-B). We are very excited to be moving ahead with the completion and subsequent flow testing in the coming weeks. We have assembled a great team of suppliers with extensive experience and are looking forward to the results.'
Source: Pantheon Resources
