Компания Great Bear Petroleum подала заявку на использование водоносного горизонта и утилизацию вод в Аляске

Alaska's source for oil and gas news Great Bear Petroleum applied to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on July 2 for an order approving an aquifer exemption for the Sagavanirktok formation and a class II underground injection control disposal injection order for the Megrez I well on the North Slope. In its request for the freshwater aquifer exemption, the company said the Brookian Sag interval was encountered at some 4,683-6,302 feet measured depth, which would require "a well that would be very expensive to drill, equip, maintain, and operate if water recovery were attempted," making it "economically and technologically impractical for drinking water purposes." There is no agricultural demand for groundwater on the North Slope coastal plain, the company said, potable water needs in the area are met with shallow freshwater sources, seasonal surface water or hauled water. Petrophysical analysis of water drilled in the area confirms that from some 1,200 feet MD, the base of the permafrost, to the top of the Canning formation at some 7,250 feet MD, "groundwater is brackish in nature," while water from the Brookian Lower Prince Creek interval tested total dissolved solids of some 7,798 mg/liter and salinity of some 8,100 mg/liter, confirming that groundwater contains more than 3,000 mg/liter and less than 10,000 mg/liter and "is not reasonably expected to supply a public water system." Class II disposal well In its application for a class II disposal well, Great Bear Pantheon said it proposes to convert the Megrez-1 well to a class II disposal well targeting the Sagavanirktok formation. Megrez-1 is an exploration well completed in 2024, according to Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission data, and is currently suspended. The company said the proposed disposal interval has been tested and confirmed as water bearing, with injection conservatively expected to be conducted at up to 5,000 barrels of water per day and pressure not exceeding 1,200 psig. Megrez-1 was perforated from 4,835-4,850 feet MD. No hydrocarbons were produced when the interval was tested and it "exhibited water-bearing behavior, supporting its suitability as a disposal interval." The company said the interval "also demonstrated favorable permeability." Great Bear Pantheon is asking for authorization to dispose of drilling, production, completion and workover wastes and "other associated wastes intrinsically derived from primary field operations." A list of injected fluids includes produced water, including spent polymer; excess or unused source water from the Topset, Sag, and Upper and Lower Prince Creek intervals; freeze-protection fluids, typically diesel but potentially including crude oil and methanol/glycol mixtures, "as well as production water, source water, and other miscellaneous fluids recovered during well operations and stimulation activities" and other associated waste. Tentatively scheduled hearing AOGCC said it has tentatively scheduled a public hearing on the application for Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. in its Anchorage hearing room. The call-in number is 907-202-7104, conference ID 876 367 057#. Requests that the tentatively scheduled hearing be held must be received by 4:30 p.m. July 24. The commission said if there are no timely requests filed for the hearing, it may issue an order without a hearing. To learn if the hearing will be held, call 907-793-1223 after July 27.