Point Thomson Success

ExxonMobil Reaches Target Depth at First Point Thomson Well.

Plan the work, work the plan - What's not to love about this news? Politicians be dammed. This team has a plan to develop the gas that will fill the pipeline.

From the Press Release: ExxonMobil drilled the well to a measured depth of over 16,000 feet. The shore-based rig directionally drilled under the Beaufort Sea to the targeted gas reservoir more than 1.5 miles offshore.

“This is another successful milestone for the Point Thomson project,” said Dale Pittman, ExxonMobil Alaska production manager.

ExxonMobil Senior Project Manager Lee Bruce added, “PTU-15 pushed the limits of drilling technology and demonstrated that the Point Thomson drilling plan is sound.”

The rig will be moved to the second development well at Point Thompson (PTU-16) and continue drilling. Work continues on front-end engineering and design for the initial production system.

APP Open Season Details

I've had some time to scan through the "APP" (Alaska Pipeline Project) open season documents and here are a few first impressions:

• In Service Date: 2020 - Hey I'll be SIXTY! OMG I'll be SIXTY!
• Cost to move gas to Alberta: $2.43-$3.13/MMBTU
• Cost to move gas to Valdez: $2.22-$2.89/MMBTU
• Point Thomson is a vital part of the overall project

Overall I'm encouraged by the numbers - it actually looks achievable. At a minimum the cards are on the table and other parties can start ciphering on the cost of an LNG plant, the value of Alaska Gas for tar sand production, and a reasonable tax structure.

Anybody want to take a stab at the cost of the LNG plant? My quick calculation say the LNG plant would have a capacity of 18 million tons per year LNG and cost $31 Billion. Somebody check my math. We really need a good cost estimate of the LNG plant to compare the options.

Here's some images from the document showing the pipeline options and capacities:





Assorted headlines:

EDMONTON JOURNAL:Alaska gas could bypass Alberta Option would send fuel to Valdez

UPI TransCanada details Alaskan pipeline plan

GLOBE AND MAIL: TransCanada seeks Alaska project commitments

OIL & GAS JOURNAL: Alaska Pipeline Project files open season plan

REUTERS: Exxon, TransCanada raise Alaska pipeline estimates

Getting Down to Details

This week TransCanada filed Open Season documents with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Here's a link to the FERC ELibrary (FERC LINK).

This will make good reading, plenty of numbers to crunch. Enjoy!

A Turning Point?

Will Point Thomson become the turning point for State of Alaska & North Slope producers?

Perhaps - According to Govoner Sean Parnell:

"I think we are at a place where we need to resolve the Point Thomson litigation. I am working at that already. If I can resolve that litigation in Alaska's interest, I will do so." (LINK)

Rich Kruger, President of ExxonMobil Production Company had this to say:

ExxonMobil wants to see Point Thomson developed. We believe it underpins the success of the Alaska Pipeline Project. The owners’ commitment to achieving progress at Point Thomson is demonstrated by investments which have now topped $1 billion. (LINK).

I wouldn't call this a Kumbaya moment, but it's a step in the right direction. Maybe Parnell is starting to feel the heat from calls to oust ExxonMobil playa hater Tom Irwin (LINK to Halcro).

Parnell's to-do list should also include tackling the fiscal certainty. It's in Alaska's interest to explore for, produce and market oil and gas. Go for it Governor, get'er done!

Weekly Blurbs

West Alpine on Hold. It's not a gas pipeline story, but it's a bad sign when permits hold up work, especially when the permitting agency won't give an explanation.

TransCanada monthly report to FERC...Yawn, seriously here's a preview of next months report "Engaged stakeholders, worked on the gas treatment plant cost estimate, attended a meeting...."

Denali's monthly report to FERC...Hmm ever so slightly more interesting, comments on polar bears.

Tweeking oil taxes - Maybe Parnell gets it? Maybe not. High oil taxes and no firm gas tax plan are killing projects. Let's hope he didn't O.D. on Palin's koolaid.

Ramras get's it.

One man's assessment of the Republican candidates for governor.

Goofy Blurb of the Week/Year/Decade : New pipeline supplies gas to BioFuel plant. Think about it. Let's grind up food crops, cook it with a petroleum product, fill up the land barge SUV with biofuel and good kharma then commute alone to a desk job.

Norman Wells needs gas. (MAP LINK) Preview of Fairbanks future without gas?

How about a GTL Plant? Love the technology, but who's lining up to fund and GTL plant? It takes MONEY, Lots and lots of MONEY. In Alaska maybe natural gas is the wrong feedstock - Syngas from insitu coal gasification sounds like a better Alaska GTL feedstock to me.

Open Season: Denali Shippers May Hesitate

From the good folks at Denali:

“I am pleased to announce that Denali will file its open season plan in April,” said Bud Fackrell, Denali president. “The results of the open season will provide an understanding of shipper requirements, which will be important as we consider our next steps. While our objective is a successful open season, we are concerned that shippers may hesitate to make the financial commitments needed to support the project due to issues outside of Denali’s control. These issues include increased gas supply in the Lower 48 market, the legal status of Pt. Thomson leases, and the lack of a long term fiscal regime for North Slope gas production. Our potential shippers have publicly indicated that resolution of these issues will be important in their decision to make the multi-billion dollar commitments necessary to move the project forward. “

Denali has invested $130 million moving the project forward over the past 20 months, primarily in the areas of field work, engineering, and stakeholder engagement. These work products underpin a robust project plan and cost estimate, which are essential components of Denali’s commercial offering.

“Denali’s open season will provide potential shippers the best opportunity to evaluate the economics of North Slope natural gas sales to the Lower 48 market,” said Fackrell. “I expect that the quality and timing of our open season offering will be viewed positively in the marketplace.”

Sounds like progress, kind of. Long term fiscal certainty needed.

Judge rules for Point Thomson

Department of Natural Resource Commissioner "Playa Hater" Tom Irwin was handed a defeat in court Monday for failing to give due process to the Point Thomson Unit (AKA ExxonMobil and others).

More later, but here's the links:

KTUU (With links to the court decision)

Halcro