July 2015, Vol. 242, No. 7

Projects

Exxon Drilling Point Thomson Again, Targets 2016 Startup

ExxonMobil has resumed drilling at Point Thomson on Alaska’s North Slope as construction continues toward bringing the initial production system online.

“The Point Thomson field is a vital part of unlocking Alaska’s North Slope gas resources,” said Jim Flood, ExxonMobil Development Company’s Arctic vice president. “The initial production will give us invaluable insight into the potential development of the reservoir and help provide Alaskans with economic benefits.”

The initial production system is designed to produce up to 10,000 bpd of natural gas condensate and is scheduled for startup in 2016. Two injection wells will work in tandem with a production well, cycling up to 200 MMcf/d of natural gas through an onsite central processing facility. The condensate will then be transported by a 22-mile pipeline to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.

Point Thomson is located on state acreage along the Beaufort Sea, 60 miles east of Prudhoe Bay and 60 miles west of the village of Kaktovik. The reservoir holds an estimated 8 Tcf of natural gas and associated condensate, a high quality hydrocarbon similar to kerosene or diesel. The gas represents 25% of known gas resources on the North Slope and could be used to partially underpin the proposed Alaska LNG project.