Energy

Hilcorp acquires additional Inlet oil assets

Hilcorp Alaska will purchase XTO Energy assets in the Middle Ground Shoal of Cook Inlet and is also studying a possible restart of a shut-in… Continue reading

Despite downturn, Hilcorp continues to buy

As other oil and gas companies seek to trim expenses with layoffs and stalling development, Hilcorp Alaska has no plans to stop acquisitions. The company… Continue reading

Hilcorp seeks Falls Creak Area expansion

Oil and gas company Hilcorp Alaska wants to add about 40 acres of land to a gasfield located between Clam Gulch and Ninilchik. Hilcorp applied… Continue reading

Hilcorp’s Baker platform catches fire in Cook Inlet

1:45 p.m. Friday update:  A 2 mile maritime safety zone remains in effect around the Baker platform Friday, though a morning fly-over of the platform… Continue reading

Hilcorp applies to drill two exploration wells

Hilcorp Alaska’s plans to drill two additional oil and natural gas exploration wells southeast of Ninilchik are moving forward into the permitting phase. If approved,… Continue reading

The Bruce oil drilling platform, operated by Hilcorp, stands in Cook Inlet. On Saturday, the company shut in the Bruce platform and its neighboring Anna platform in response to a leaking crude oil pipeline on the Anna platform. (Photo courtesy Ground Truth Trekking)

Hilcorp platform leaking oil into Cook Inlet

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include a statement from Gov. Bill Walker. It has also been edited to correct a reference to… Continue reading

The Bruce oil drilling platform, operated by Hilcorp, stands in Cook Inlet. On Saturday, the company shut in the Bruce platform and its neighboring Anna platform in response to a leaking crude oil pipeline on the Anna platform. (Photo courtesy Ground Truth Trekking)
Mt. Spurr towers high over the Chuitna River on the west side of Cook Inlet near Tyonek, Alaska. PacRim, the company investing in the mine, informed the state March 31 that it was suspending its quest for permits for the mine, which would have extensively strip-mined throughout the Chuitna River watershed. (Photo courtesy Ground Truth Trekking)

In Tyonek, surprise, relief over PacRim change of plans

After last week’s announcement that PacRim Coal is halting plans for a strip-mine in their region, some inhabitants of the west Cook Inlet’s Chuitna watershed… Continue reading

Mt. Spurr towers high over the Chuitna River on the west side of Cook Inlet near Tyonek, Alaska. PacRim, the company investing in the mine, informed the state March 31 that it was suspending its quest for permits for the mine, which would have extensively strip-mined throughout the Chuitna River watershed. (Photo courtesy Ground Truth Trekking)
Pat Foley, Senior Vice President of Alaska Operations for North Slope oil producer Caelus Energy, speaks on the oil industry's importance to Alaska's fiscal recovery during a talk on Wednesday, April 5 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center. "We're all in the oil business," Foley told his audience, speaking of oil's central place in Alaska's economy. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Caelus seeks to invest locals in Smith Bay oil

Under Alaska’s current oil tax and incentive program, the state “is really a co-investor” in oil and gas development, according to Pat Foley, Senior Vice… Continue reading

Pat Foley, Senior Vice President of Alaska Operations for North Slope oil producer Caelus Energy, speaks on the oil industry's importance to Alaska's fiscal recovery during a talk on Wednesday, April 5 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center. "We're all in the oil business," Foley told his audience, speaking of oil's central place in Alaska's economy. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Chuitna documentary to premier February 3

Two developments in the ongoing controversy over the proposed Chuitna coal project are expected to happen soon after one another. In the first weeks of… Continue reading

Photo Courtesy Damion Brook Kintz Ladd Landing near Tyonek, seen in September 2006, could be a future site for a coal export terminal for the Chuitna Coal Proect.

DNR hears arguments for Chuitna water rights

A small creek is causing big trouble for Chuitna mine developers and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, or… Continue reading

Photo Courtesy Damion Brook Kintz Ladd Landing near Tyonek, seen in September 2006, could be a future site for a coal export terminal for the Chuitna Coal Proect.

Water rights dispute generates thousands of comments

On Thursday, a controversial and precedent-setting decision on whether to grant water rights for a west-side Cook Inlet stream to the salmon conservation group Chuitna… Continue reading

This photo provided by Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response, Inc. shows pan pan ice taken during an agency overflight near a Hilcorp Alaska LLC offshore platform in Cook Inlet, Alaska, Monday, April 3, 2017. Officials said an underwater pipeline spill between two production platforms owned by Hilcorp dumped less than three gallons (11 liters) of oil into Cook Inlet. (Derek Samora/CISPRI via AP)

Responders stand down from oil leak

Responders to an oil release from a Hilcorp crude oil pipeline on the west side of Upper Cook Inlet stood down at 9 a.m Monday… Continue reading

This photo provided by Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response, Inc. shows pan pan ice taken during an agency overflight near a Hilcorp Alaska LLC offshore platform in Cook Inlet, Alaska, Monday, April 3, 2017. Officials said an underwater pipeline spill between two production platforms owned by Hilcorp dumped less than three gallons (11 liters) of oil into Cook Inlet. (Derek Samora/CISPRI via AP)

Chuitna Coal no longer seeking permits

As of March 31, the Delaware-based PacRim Coal “has suspended all permitting activities” related to its project to surface-mine coal from under the West Cook… Continue reading

Meet the HEA Board of Director candidates

Meet the HEA Board of Director candidates

Three seats on Homer Electric Association’s nine-member Board of Directors are each being sought by two candidates. The cooperative utility, which supplies electricity to approximately… Continue reading

Meet the HEA Board of Director candidates

Pipeline rate settlement helps decrease HEA bills

Edit: This story has been updated with additional information on Kenai Beluga Pipeline's 2015 traffic. A settlement in February over the cost of delivering fuel… Continue reading

Hilcorp ordered to inspect crude pipeline near leaking gas line

Federal pipeline safety authorities have ordered Hilcorp Alaska to inspect the underwater crude oil pipeline running adjacent and parallel to the leaking Hilcorp natural gas… Continue reading

Hilcorp to monitor Cook Inlet gas leak

Hilcorp plans to observe the methane release from its leaking Cook Inlet pipeline by using sensor buoys to make weekly water quality samples and twice-monthly… Continue reading

Contracts and power pooling issues in HEA’s future

The three people elected this year to the Homer Electric Association Board of Directors will be part of decisions about the utility’s natural gas supply… Continue reading

DEC: Hilcorp must sample and monitor underwater gas leak

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is requiring Hilcorp Energy Company to begin sampling and environmental monitoring of its damaged underwater natural gas pipeline, which… Continue reading