ExxonMobil Announces Successful Drilling of Point Thomson Wells

(LINK) Exxon continues to invest in exploration for gas that will someday fill the Alaska Gas Pipeline - You've got to appreciate an outfit that's committed to Alaskan natural gas. The sums invested indicate that somebody at Exxon believes Alaska natural gas and the pipeline have a future. Nice job to everyone who worked hard to make the project a success.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExxonMobil announced today that it has successfully drilled and tested the PTU-15 and PTU-16 development wells for the Point Thomson project on Alaska’s North Slope, ahead of the year-end 2010 target.
“The successful drilling and testing of these wells represents a significant accomplishment and demonstrates we are delivering on our commitments,” said Alaska Production Manager Dale Pittman.

“Many Alaskans contributed to this milestone, completing work ahead of schedule in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

Point Thomson is a remote natural gas and condensate field located on Alaska’s North Slope, approximately 60 miles east of Prudhoe Bay. It is estimated to hold about 25 percent of the North Slope’s discovered gas resources. Concurrent with the drilling of these two development wells, activities are also focused on engineering and environmental permitting which are critical for project development. To date about $1.5 billion, including more than $730 million in the last two years, has been invested in Point Thomson.

The Point Thomson project includes gas cycling facilities designed to recover hydrocarbon liquids and re-inject natural gas back into the reservoir, making Point Thomson the highest-pressure gas cycling operation in the world.

“The project is providing jobs and investment in Alaska,” said Pittman. “We are continuing to work with the State of Alaska to resolve outstanding issues in order to maintain the pace and momentum of Point Thomson development. Point Thomson gas is critical to the success of an Alaska gas
pipeline project.”