XCD Energy has announced that US-based exploration and production company ConocoPhillips has made hydrocarbons discovery at Harpoon prospect on Alaska’s North Slope onshore US.
The Harpoon Prospect is located about 15km north-west of XCD Energy’s Project Peregrine lease position within the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s prolific North Slope.
The discovery follows the drilling of one well on the Harpoon exploration prospect, which is interpreted to be analogous to XCD Energy’s Harrier Prospect.
ConocoPhillips completes drilling of two additional wells
Additionally, ConocoPhillips completed two additional wells as part of a planned four well drilling programme within the greater Willow area.
The Willow area, which is 100% owned and operated by ConocoPhillips, is determined to be on the same sequence boundary as XCD Energy’s Merlin Prospect.
However, Willow development is subject to final investment decision, which is expected later this year.
XCD managing director Dougal Ferguson said: “This is yet another excellent exploration result from this season’s drilling campaign that validates our strategy of pursuing the Nanushuk play in the NPR-A.
“The unfortunate onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to Conoco Phillips cutting short its North Slope exploration and development drilling program including on the Harpoon Prospect, but encountering hydrocarbons in the topsets at Harpoon-2 (only well of three planned to be drilled on the Harpoon Prospect this season) clearly provides us with necessary encouragement to reinitiate our farmout campaign.”
