The Colville River Unit (commonly referred to as Alpine) is located in the Colville River
Delta on Alaska’s Western North Slope, 34 miles west of the Kuparuk River Field and eight miles north of the Inupiat village of Nuiqsut. Field
construction and development took three years, six million man-hours and cost more than $1.3 billion. Alpine has no
permanent road connecting it to other North Slope infrastructure. In the winter an ice road is built connecting Kuparuk
to Alpine to move in supplies for the rest of the operating year. In any given winter season more than 1,500 truckloads of
modules, pipeline and equipment are moved to Alpine over the ice road. More than eight years of environmental studies
guided conceptual development of the field, allowing engineers and environmental experts to locate drill sites and
facilities in areas where they have had minimal impact on wildlife, waterfowl and the subsistence lifestyle practiced by
Nuiqsut residents
1994
Alpine Discovery well Bergschrund #1
1995
Delineation drilling of 5 appraisal wells
1996
Alpine 3D Seismic projects reserves at 365 MMBO gross. Nanuq reservoir discovered with
Nanuq #1 well
1997
Western North Slope project funding and sanction
2000
Nov. 2000 CD1 start-up produces first oil. Initial rate is approximately 80 MBOPD. Sets the
record on the North Slope for shortest cycle time discovery to first oil in 6.5 years.
2001
Nanuq delineation drilling and Lookout discovery. CD2 start-up rate increases to 100 MBD.
Alpine Development wins Phillips Petroleum Shield Award.
2002-2004
Continued exploration and delineation drilling. Environmental Impact Statement updated.
Alpine wins P66 Shield Award for Environmental Impact in 2002.
2004
First Alpine plant expansion (ACX-1) adds Miscible Injection Gas facilities and increases
plant oil capacity to 135 MBOPD. Water expansion to 135 MBD sea water and 100 MBD
produced water.
2005
Second Alpine plant expansion (ACX-2) adds gas train capacity
Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) handling capacity.
2006
Fiord (CD3) and Nanuq (CD4) drillsite start-ups. CD3 becomes first roadless drillsite on the
North Slope. WNS oil rate increases 125 MBOPD. The third Alpine plant expansion (ACX-3)
adds the S tower and expands plant capacity to 140 MBD. Qannik reservoir discovery and
delineation.
2007
WNS production peaks at ~140 MBD.
2008
CD2 drillsite expansion and Qannik start-up. Awarded VPP star
certification.
2009
CD3 and CD4 drillsite expansions (CD3X and CD4X) add drilling
without adding gravel.
2010
Alpine 10 year anniversary. WNS production averages ~95 MB
2011
CD3 second drillsite expansion (CD3X2) adds further drilling without adding gravel. New
wells on the expansion are drilled fromseasonal ice pad. Alpine crew rescues baby polar
bear. Permit for CD5 bridge issued by USACE.
2012
CD5 project sanction.
2013
CD4 second drillsite expansion adds additional drilling slots with
expanding gravel footprint.
2014
CD5 field construction begins.
2015
CD5 construction and start-up. First oil anticipated Dec. 2015.