Based on two wells drilled in early 2016, as well as 126 sq. mi. (326 km) of existing 3D seismic, Caelus estimates the oil in place under the current leasehold to be 6 billion barrels.

Caelus Energy Alaska LLC announced that its subsidiary, Caelus Energy Alaska Smith Bay LLC, has made a significant light oil discovery on its Smith Bay state leases on the North Slope of Alaska.

Based on two wells drilled in early 2016, as well as 126 sq. mi. (326 km) of existing 3D seismic, Caelus estimates the oil in place under the current leasehold to be 6 billion barrels. Furthermore, the Smith Bay fan complex may contain upwards of 10 billion barrels of oil in place when the adjoining acreage is included. Due to the favorable fluids contained in the reservoir, Caelus expects to achieve recovery factors in the range of 30 to 40 percent. Additional drilling and seismic should improve estimates of oil in place via delineation of undrilled fan lobes and channel complexes imaged on the original 3D seismic.

Caelus CEO Jim Musselman said, “This discovery could be really exciting for the state of Alaska. It has the size and scale to play a meaningful role in sustaining the Alaskan oil business over the next three or four decades. Fiscal stability going forward is critical for a project of this magnitude. Without the state tax credit programs, none of this would've happened, and I'm not sure Caelus would've come to explore in Alaska. We're proof that the credit programs work.”

The Smith Bay development has the potential to provide 200,000 barrels per day of light, highly mobile oil, which would both increase Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) throughput volumes and reduce the average viscosity of oil in the pipeline, extending its long term viability.

The two exploration wells, Caelus-Tulimaniq #1 (“CT-1”) and step-out Caelus-Tulimaniq #2 (“CT-2”), targeted a large Brookian submarine fan complex spanning over 300 sq. mi. (777 km). The fan was successfully drilled and logged in both wells, encountering an extension of the accumulation 5.25 mi. (8 km) northwest of the CT-1 discovery at the CT-2 location. Gross hydrocarbon columns in excess of 1,000 ft. (305 m) were encountered in each well; with CT-1 and CT-2 logging 183 and 223 ft. (56 and 68 m) of net pay, respectively. Neither well was flow tested due to seasonal time constraints, but extensive sidewall coring and subsequent lab analyses confirm the presence of reservoir-quality sandstones containing light oil ranging from 40 to 45 degree API gravity.

Caelus is currently planning an appraisal, program, which will include drilling an additional appraisal well and acquiring a new 3D seismic survey over outboard acreage. The appraisal program will enable Caelus to confirm reservoir continuity, optimize future drilling locations, and ultimately increase reserves. In parallel, Caelus is studying and planning the facilities' build-out, which will process and transport the oil to TAPS.

For more information, visit http://caelusenergy.com/.

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