Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Mar 01/02) - Representatives from several oil and gas companies provided a mid-season update last week on their activities in the Delta.

"Things are going pretty well," said Delona Butcher, community and regulatory affairs rep with Chevron Canada Resources.

The meeting took place at Ingamo Hall Feb. 18.

Chevron is also acting on behalf of its two partners in the Mackenzie Delta Partnership -- BP Canada Energy Company and Burlington Resources Canada Ltd.

Chevron has an Ogruknang 3D seismic program in the southern delta. Work began in mid-January and advance work should be completed by mid-March.

Work started in late December on a 3D seismic program on Ellice Island. Preliminary work started in early February on the Mallik 3D seismic program on Richards Island.

"We aren't drilling this year," Butcher explained.

"We're focusing on seismic and hoping to drill next year, and use the data we get from our seismic programs to find an exploratory drilling location for next season."

Butcher said the ice conditions are better than last year.

"One of the concerns for a while was whether or not we were going to have enough snow. 'Cause it looked like we had ice, but we also need snow cover. It looks pretty good."

Brian Plesuk of Conoco Canada (formerly Gulf Canada) also spoke.

Conoco's Parsons Lake 3D program is being conducted by Inuvialuit Oilfield Services Ltd. (formerly WesternGeco). Drilling of seismic shot holes began in early February. The program is expected to be done by April.

John Brown spoke on Shell Canada Ltd.'s activities. Line clearing was 20 per cent complete on its Aklavik 2D program, with drilling 15 per cent complete. Recording was expected to start around Feb. 18.

The line clearing on Shell's Kugpik 3D program was 48 per cent complete, with drilling 10 per cent complete. Recording is expected to start in mid-March.

Petro-Canada plans

John Hunt spoke on Petro-Canada's activities.

The company is conducting a Nuna 3D seismic program, a Titalik 2D and 3D seismic program, a Ogeoquoq 3D seismic program, and a Napoiak 2D seismic program, along with a Napartok gravity survey.

Petro-Canada is currently hauling gravel from Swimming Point to its North Kugpik L-46 site, northwest of Inuvik.

"We will prepare the well site on a gravel pad insulation and rig matting and dike it," Hunt said. "We'll drill through the summer, into the summer period."