Take a look at block prices just paid in Alaska as a comparison to those paid in the JDZ. The North Slope field is a known producer and on pipe lines to US markets. Looks sort of small time. Three names we’ve seen a lot of at bottom of article.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Enticed by oil prices over $60 a barrel, energy companies and individual investors bid more than $31.2 million on Wednesday for oil and gas rights in Alaskan territory, according to preliminary sale results.
"I'm thrilled, no doubt about it," said Bill Van Dyke, acting director of the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas. "It's just a real healthy environment on the North Slope right now for both companies that have been here for a long time as well as companies that are jumping in today," he said.
Some of the biggest oil fields in the United States are in the area. Alaska is second in the United States in proved oil reserves, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
BP unit BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. made the highest bid for a single tract, bidding $5 million for rights near its offshore Liberty prospect on federal property.
ConocoPhillips unit ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc., the North Slope's top oil producer, was also an active bidder, spending about $5.4 million on Beaufort Sea exploration rights and about $1 million on rights to explore land tracts on the North Slope.
Van Dyke said the active bidding reflects both high oil prices and the bright prospects on the North Slope for a variety of companies.
Union Oil of California (Unocal) offered nearly $7 million for exploration rights on land south of producing oil fields and west of the trans-Alaska pipeline, according to preliminary results. Unocal in 2005 became a subsidiary of Chevron Corp..
Eni Petroleum Exploration Co. spent more than $5.6 million for rights to explore North Slope tracts
Other companies picking up leases in the sales were Anadarko Petroleum, & Pioneer Natural Resources.
