The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved Eni’s exploration plan (EP) to drill four wildcats at the company’s Spy Island Drillsite (SID) in the Beaufort Sea.
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Map of Spy Island, from Eni. |
The approval comes one month after the Italian giant submitted its proposal to drill exploration wells into the federal submerged lands of the Beaufort Sea from its man-made island in Alaska state waters.
BOEM has approved for drilling to only be conducted during the winter months. Eni subsidiary Eni US Operating Co. is scheduled to begin drilling in December 2017.
Eni’s EP consists of exploratory drilling from its Nikaitchuq North Project, consisting of four exploration wells: two mainbores and two sidetracks from SID.
SID is some 3mi offshore of Oliktok Point, just south of the natural barrier island, Spy Island, in shallow water depths of 6-8ft.
The proposed wildcats will begin from the surface of SID and extend subsurface of the ocean floor, ending in federal leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of Alaska – Harrison Bay Block 6423 Unit (Leases OCS-Y-1753, OCS-Y-1754, and OCS-Y-1757).
Last month, Eni said it intended for drilling activities to start on 10 December, and continue into 2019. Eni anticipates using the Doyon Rig 15 for drilling operations.
“Eni brought to us a solid, well-considered plan,” says BOEM Acting Director Walter Cruickshank. “We know there are vast oil and gas resources under the Beaufort Sea, and we look forward to working with Eni in their efforts to tap into this energy potential.”
Following BOEM’s approval, Eni is required to procure all appropriate permits from other state and federal agencies, including permits to drill from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
Eni’s Spy Island is one of four oil and gas producing artificial islands in the waters of the Beaufort Sea. The others are Northstar Island, Endicott Island, and Oooguruk Island. The construction of a fifth island, as proposed in a DPP submitted to BOEM by Hilcorp Alaska, is under review by federal agencies, says BOEM.
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