ExxonMobil Production Company today announced that it has completed
initial barging of equipment and supplies to the Point Thomson drill
site. This work supports the drilling program outlined in the Point
Thomson development plan submitted to the Department of Natural
Resources earlier this year. ExxonMobil is operator of the Point Thomson
unit.
The barges and tugs, operated by Crowley Maritime Corporation,
transported ice road and drill site construction equipment and supplies
to the Point Thomson site located on Alaska's North Slope. ExxonMobil
has conducted field operations at Point Thomson for several weeks
following issuance of permits and is awaiting additional permits from
State regulatory agencies necessary to allow drilling activities to
continue.
Craig Haymes, Alaska production manager for ExxonMobil, said, "Point
Thomson will be the highest pressure gas cycling project in the world,
employing world-class drill wells. Currently over 150 people from more
than 30 companies in Alaska are working to progress drilling and
development activities for the Point Thomson field. The future
availability of Point Thomson gas is essential to the success of an
Alaska gas pipeline project."
The Point Thomson reservoir, located 60 miles east of Prudhoe Bay, is
over 12,000 feet deep. The reservoir pressure of 10,200 pounds per
square inch is abnormally high for the depth, requiring specialized
drilling and well-completion operations to maintain well control. The
project also will require high pressure injection and fluid-handling
facilities.
As part of the drilling program, a $20 million project is under way to
upgrade the Nabors Rig 27E with new drilling mud and electrical systems
to safely access the very high pressure Point Thomson reservoir. Casing
pipe and wellhead equipment containing high-strength steel and special
corrosion-resistant alloys is under manufacture, with delivery scheduled
before year-end. The drilling and production facilities will be designed
and installed to minimize the impact on the environment. Ice roads and
existing gravel pads will be used as much as practicable, with no
off-lease gravel roads planned. Road construction is planned for late
2008.
The project will cost approximately $1.3 billion, which includes a
five-well delineation drilling program and a multi-year development to
construct production facilities, pipelines, and support infrastructure.
The upgraded Nabors rig will drill the first well during the 2008-09
winter season.
Under the initial phase, approximately 200 million cubic feet per day of
Point Thomson gas is expected to be produced. Approximately 10,000
barrels per day of liquid condensate that is separated from the gas is
planned to be delivered for sale through new and existing oil pipelines.
The remaining gas will be injected back into the Thomson Sand reservoir
to maintain pressure for continued hydrocarbon recovery and for
subsequent gas sales.
ExxonMobil and the other Point Thomson working interest owners are
proceeding with the project while they seek to resolve the dispute with
the State over the Point Thomson Unit and leases. Other owners include
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., ConocoPhillips Alaska
Inc, as well as 23 additional companies.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Estimates, expectations, and business plans in
this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results,
including resource recoveries, production rates, and project plans,
schedules, and costs could differ materially due to changes in market
conditions affecting the oil and gas industry or long-term oil and gas
price levels; political or regulatory developments; reservoir
performance; timely completion of development projects; technical or
operating factors; and other factors discussed under the heading
"Factors Affecting Future Results" in the Investor Information section
of our website (www.exxonmobil.com)
and in Item 1A of our most recent Form 10-K. References to hydrocarbon
resources, gas, barrels of liquid condensate, and similar terms include
quantities of oil and gas that are not yet classified as proved reserves
but that we believe will be produced in the future.
ExxonMobil Upstream Media Relations, 713-656-4376