State seeks public comment on Pikka oil project expansion near Colville River

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is accepting public comments through June 5 on a proposed expansion of the Pikka Development Project, an oil production facility east of the Colville River Delta on the North Slope.

Oil Search (Alaska), a subsidiary of Santos Limited, wants to expand the Nanushuk Drillsite C pad by 2.3 acres, add two pipeline valve access pads totaling 0.9 acres, and extend an access road by 0.24 acres. The changes would permanently impact 3.44 acres of wetlands with 46,500 cubic yards of gravel fill.

The company said the modifications are needed to accommodate updated safety and logistics requirements for drilling and operations, including relocating the drilling camp area on the pad. The two valve pads would be built on either side of the Kachemach River Pipeline Bridge to allow year-round access for inspections and emergency response.

The project produces oil from leaseholds east of the Colville River Delta and transports it through an export pipeline to the Kuparuk sales oil pipeline, then to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. The original project received federal permits in 2015, with operations planned through 2030.

The state is reviewing whether the expansion complies with the Clean Water Act and Alaska Water Quality Standards. A compensatory mitigation plan has been approved to offset wetland impacts.

Comments can be submitted online at dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices or by email to [email protected] with the subject line "POA-2015-00025-M9 v3.0." For questions, contact Shauna Holben at Oil Search (Alaska) at 907-375-4600.