In a press release dated 31 March 2020, Oil Search announced it had successfully flow tested the Nanushuk 0 reservoir in the Stirrup 1 well (API 501032080900) at lease ADL 392044 in the North Slope. The well intersected an oil column of 75 ft (23 m) and flowed at a stabilized rate of 3,520 bpd from a single stimulated zone. Logs and core were acquired before conducting the flow test.  The well was spud on 27 January 2020. The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission approved permit 2191530 to drill the well on 18 December 2019. The company filed a Lease Plan of Operations Application with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on 29 September 2109, which was approved on 6 December 2019.  The Stirrup prospect in the Horseshoe block is described as a direct analog to the Horseshoe #1 (API 501032075100) Nanushuk discovery well drilled about 7 mi (11 km) to the east in lease ADL 392048 by Armstrong in 2017, which encountered more than 150 ft (46 m) of net oil pay in several reservoirs. With a potential resource of 200 â 400 MMbo, a successful outcome could de-risk additional fairways that could lead to a stand-alone development. Oil Search has contracted the Doyon Arctic Fox rig to drill the well. The application calls for the drilling of one well from an ice pad located in Section 26 of U8N3E and the acquisition of a walkaway vertical seismic profile. The well will be drilled to a true vertical depth of 6,000 ft (1,829 m) or less.  Keiran Wulff, Managing Director of Oil Search, said, "We are very encouraged by the success of our 2019/20 Alaskan exploration programme, with oil discovered in all three penetrations, at Mitquq 1 Mitquq 1 ST1 and Stirrup, and excellent flow rates achieved in the two well tests. We also discovered high quality oil in a deeper reservoir at Mitquq which was not tested. While further appraisal will be required, these new discoveries may represent low cost tie-back options to the proposed Pikka Unit Development and have the potential to create substantial long-term value for Oil search shareholders, as well as having positive implications for the prospectivity of our acreage."
United States (Fish Creek Platform (North Slope B.)) Horseshoe