Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

What is this notice about?

ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. is asking the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) for an exception to a well-plugging rule for well 1D-119 in the Kuparuk River Unit. The company says the well's casing has collapsed, so it cannot fully seal off each underground layer as the rule requires. A public hearing is tentatively set for December 3, 2026, but it will only be held if someone files a written request by November 6, 2026; written comments are also accepted.

Why was this notice issued?

ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. (CPAI) applied for a waiver of 20 AAC 25.112(c), the Alaska rule requiring that plugged wells keep oil, gas and fresh water confined to their own underground layers so they cannot move into other layers or to the surface. CPAI says access below a wireline-retrievable packer is blocked, and shallow ground sinking has collapsed the single casing string from 138 ft to about 400 ft, pressing it against the tubing. CPAI says a rig-based repair is not technically or operationally feasible.

What action is being taken?

The AOGCC is considering CPAI's request to waive the plug and abandonment requirement for Kuparuk River Unit well 1D-119 (Permit to Drill 197-222), Docket Number OTH-26-031. It has tentatively scheduled a public hearing and is accepting written comments. If no one requests a hearing in time, the AOGCC may issue an order without a hearing.

Who is involved: ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. (CPAI)

How can the public respond?

Respond by Wed, Nov 25, 2026 17 days from today.

“Written comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 25, 2026, except that, if a hearing is held, comments must be received no later than the conclusion of the December 3, 2026, hearing. Requests to hold the hearing must be filed in writing no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 6, 2026.”

Ways to respond

Mail Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 333 west 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501
Email samantha.coldiron@alaska.gov
Testify at hearing If held: December 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m., AOGCC hearing room, 333 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501; audio call-in (907) 202-7104 Conference ID: 859 900 154#

What to include

Refer to Docket Number OTH-26-031 (Kuparuk River Unit 1D-119, Permit to Drill 197-222). The hearing will only happen if a written request to hold it is filed with the AOGCC by 4:30 p.m. on November 6, 2026. To find out if the hearing will be held, call (907) 793-1223 after November 10, 2026. To join by MS Teams video, contact Ms. Coldiron at least two business days before the hearing to request an invitation. Anyone needing disability accommodations should contact Samantha Coldiron at (907) 793-1223 no later than November 25, 2026.

Contact

Samantha Coldiron
Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
samantha.coldiron@alaska.gov
(907) 793-1223
333 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501

Will there be public meetings?

Public hearing (tentative): Thu, Dec 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
AOGCC hearing room, 333 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501
Audio call-in: (907) 202-7104 Conference ID: 859 900 154#. For MS Teams video, contact Ms. Coldiron at least two business days before the hearing to request an invitation. Hearing held only if a written request is filed by 4:30 p.m. on November 6, 2026; call (907) 793-1223 after November 10, 2026 to confirm.

Key dates

Nov 6, 2026: Deadline (4:30 p.m.) to file a written request that the hearing be held
Nov 10, 2026: After this date, call (907) 793-1223 to learn if the hearing will be held
Nov 25, 2026: Deadline (4:30 p.m.) for written comments if no hearing is held; deadline to request disability accommodations
Dec 3, 2026: Tentative public hearing at 10:00 a.m.; if held, comments accepted until the end of the hearing

Original notice text

Notice of Public Hearing STATE OF ALASKA ALASKA OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION RE: Docket Number: OTH-26-031 Request for Plug and Abandonment Waiver Kuparuk River Unit 1D-119, Permit to Drill 197-222 ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. (CPAI) requests a waiver of 20 AAC 25.112(c), which requires that “plugging of cased portions of a wellbore must be performed in a manner that ensures that all hydrocarbons and freshwater are confined to their respective indigenous strata and are prevented from migrating into other strata or to the surface.” CPAI states that a waiver is necessary because access below the wireline-retrievable packer is obstructed, preventing isolation of the individual West Sak indigenous strata. Shallow formation subsidence has caused the single casing string to collapse from 138 ft to approximately 400 ft, causing it to impinge on the tubing. Given these conditions, CPAI states that a rig-based intervention is not technically or operationally feasible to further reduce the residual risks associated with plugging and abandonment. A public hearing on the matter has been tentatively scheduled for December 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The hearing will be held in the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) hearing room located at 333 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The audio call-in information is (907) 202-7104 Conference ID: 859 900 154#. Anyone who wishes to participate remotely using MS Teams video conference should contact Ms. Coldiron at least two business days before the scheduled public hearing to request an invitation for the MS Teams. To request that the tentatively scheduled hearing be held, a written request must be filed with the AOGCC no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 6, 2026. If a request for a hearing is not timely filed, the AOGCC may issue an order without a hearing. To learn if the AOGCC will hold the hearing, call (907) 793-1223 after November 10, 2026. In addition, written comments regarding this application may be submitted to the AOGCC, at 333 west 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 or samantha.coldiron@alaska.gov. Comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 25, 2026, except that, if a hearing is held, comments must be received no later than the conclusion of the December 3, 2026, hearing. If, because of a disability, special accommodations may be needed to comment or attend the hearing, contact Samantha Coldiron at (907) 793-1223 no later than November 25, 2026. Thomas W. McKay Jessie L. Chmielowski Gregory C. Wilson Chair, Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

This summary was written by an AI model (Claude) from the official notice text. This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm deadlines and instructions in the official notice. Legal disclaimer.