The Kad River 3D survey covers the newly secured Kad River East leases, comprising 17,920 acres east of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS).
The Kad River 3D survey covers the newly secured Kad River East leases, comprising 17,920 acres east of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS).
Interpretation of the 3D dataset will support the maturation of prospects within the Kad River East leases and enable the calculation of an internal maiden Prospective Resource estimate, expected to be released later in the year.
Recently completed regional mapping by 88 Energy highlights the development of turbidite fairways analogous to the productive Sockeye fields to the east.
Initial analysis of existing 2D seismic and historical well data identified an active, multi-reservoir petroleum system across the Kad River East acreage. These include Jacobs Ladder C and Lake Fed 79-1 across Ivishak, Seabee and Canning intervals; and the Kadler St 15-09-11 and Toolik Fed 1 with oil shows recorded in Mikkelsen, Lower Sag, USB, Kuparuk equivalent and Ivishak / Lisburne reservoirs.
The newly acquired Kad River 3D dataset will refine structural and stratigraphic models, identify primary prospects and assess future resource potential.
The nearby Sockeye-2 well provides a compelling analogue supporting the resource potential of the broader Kad River East area. Sockeye-2 was drilled to approximately 10,500 ft, encountering a high-quality Palaeocene-aged clastic reservoir with an average porosity of 20%.
This result demonstrates the productivity of distal turbidite systems and provides strong evidence for a laterally extensive, high-quality reservoir framework across this region of the North Slope, said 88 Energy.
Regionally, Palaeocene reservoirs, characterised by ‘favourable porosity’, permeability and fluid mobility, are present along the eastern North Slope.
‘Advanced interpretation techniques, including AI-based tools, have enabled the company to perform more insightful interpretation work enabling the precise targeting of potential prospects. Subtle stratigraphic traps and complex depositional systems require high-resolution imaging to delineate them effectively,’ said 88 Energy.
88 Energy has access to six 3D seismic surveys across its North Slope portfolio that will enable the team to integrate regional trends, legacy discoveries and newly acquired acreage. ‘Access to 3D data represents a significant step change in the company’s exploration strategy and re-risks future drilling,’ said 88 Energy. Importantly, these datasets have been acquired at substantially reduced cost through the State of Alaska’s seismic incentive programmes.’
