ConocoPhillips Alaska announced Friday that it achieved first oil production on Thursday from Fiord West Kuparuk reservoir, just a month after setting a new drilling record for a land-based rig.
Doyon 26, the largest mobile land rig in North America (also known as “The Beast,”) is a technologically advanced rig that can drill beyond 40,000 feet, which substantially extends the reach from a single pad. The Beast can develop 154 square miles of reservoir from a 14-acre drilling pad, versus 55 square miles with conventional rigs.
“This project opens a new era we call ‘growth without gravel’ where we can use extended reach technology to access 60 percent more acreage from a single pad, dramatically reducing our footprint and enabling us to safely produce from environmentally sensitive areas,” said Erec Isaacson, president of ConocoPhillips Alaska.
The well, CD2-310, was decades in the making and planning started in 1998. An injection well that will be pre-produced for 5-6 months prior to being converted to permanent injection service, it will give the company a lot of data that can help optimize the design of the next well. The well’s flowrate is being progressively increased and is currently producing close to 10,000 barrels per day, exceeding expectations.
“Extended reach technology has been a game changer for ConocoPhillips,” said Vincent Lelarge, vice president for Alaska asset development. “It’s how we are able to responsibility develop fields like Fiord West Kuparuk with minimal footprint on the tundra and the surrounding environment.”
Lelarge said ConocoPhillips has worked collaboratively on the Doyon 26 rig since 2011 when use of an extended reach drilling rig was being evaluated. From front-end engineering and design studies to our ConocoPhillips Canada colleagues collaborating with Doyon Drilling during construction, the rig arrived on the North Slope of Alaska in 2020.
Fiord West Kuparuk is located in the Colville River Unit and is 100 percent owned and operated by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.
Sen. Click Bishop has been politely tolerated by conservatives in his Fairbanks district for years, but no more. The Republican officers of District 36, who have been disgruntled with Bishop, have unanimously passed a resolution to censure the senior senator, who is a Republican, and to withhold all support for his reelection.
Bishop has served in the Alaska Senate since Jan. 18, 2013. He also served as the Commissioner of the Department of Labor of Commerce from 2007 to 2012. This year, he was co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
The district officers laid out a series of charges in their censure resolution, which passed unanimously:
Bishop voted against the bill known as the Vaccination Bill of Rights. SB 156 would prevent the State of Alaska from requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccination, or a vaccination passport, and would recognize religious, medical, and other reasons for refusing the shots.
Bishop voted against an amendment to HB 69, which also related to forced vaccines. The amendment stated, “It is the intent of the legislature that a business, state agency, or political subdivision of the state not require an individual to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the individual to access an area or service that is open to the public. It is the intent of the legislature that a state agency or political subdivision of the state not adopt or issue a regulation, ordinance, order, or similar policy that requires an individual to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the individual to exercise a right or receive a benefit that is available to the public.”
Bishop also opposed Amendment 11 to HB 69, yet another attempt to put curbs on the State of Alaska’s forced vaccination authority: “It is the intent of the legislature that no state funds be expended on an entity that mandates its employees to receive a vaccine approved for use under an Emergency Use Authorization granted by the United States Food and Drug Administration.”
The group says that by voting against protecting the rights of Alaskans who don’t want Covid shots, Bishop violated Plank #2 of the Alaska Republican Party Platform, under the Statement of Principles category, which recognizes that the “fundamental principles of life, liberty and freedom” are foundational both to the State of Alaska and to the nation, and must be protected. They also are holding him accountable for violating Plank #35, under the Health and Family category, which states, “We oppose any health care mandate as unconstitutional and support in-person access to patients.
The group has several other charges against Bishop, including violating Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects the inherent individual rights of American citizens under “due process of law” and declares, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.”
The censure resolution states that vaccine mandates and restrictions violate Point #1 of the Nuremberg Code, which says any medical experimentation or procedure requires the voluntary consent of the human subject.
The Republicans also say he voted against an amendment to HB 69, which stated that no public funds may be used to teach critical race theory in public schools. The resolution says “Senator Bishop violated the last sentence of Plank #3 of the Alaska Republican Party Platform, under Statement of Principles, which states, ‘We support the primary right of parents to control and direct their children’s education.'”
Finally, the group says that voting against the statutorily calculated Permanent Fund dividend was a repeat offense by Bishop, who voted to cut the PFD with his votes on SB 128 in June of 2016 and May of 2018.
Arbitrary changing by the Legislature of the dividend payments is “a violation of the above statute and subversion of the will of the Alaskan people, as shareholders, to decide the Permanent Fund Dividend’s fate,” the district says in its resolution.
No Republican has filed against Bishop, and the filing deadline is just 10 days away, June 1.
The Soldotna offices of Planned Parenthood has just 10 days left. After 30 years of offering birth control, medication abortions, sexually transmitted disease testing, and abortion referrals, the location is one of a handful around the Western States that are being closed so the organization can adapt to doing more services via telemedicine. The Soldotna clinic, which closes May 31, does not offer surgical abortions.
The closure of the Soldotna clinic will mean the pro-abortion mega-organization, with its powerful political arms, will have locations only in Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. The closure doesn’t appear to be related to the pending overturn of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that gave broad abortion rights to women across the country. Although the authority over abortion limitations will return to the states, Alaska’s constitution has been interpreted by the Alaska Supreme Court to allow doctors to perform surgical abortions.
Nearly 75,000 ballots have been cast in the special primary election for Alaska’s lone seat in Congress. This primary, which ends June 11, is mail-in, is for the temporary seat to finish out Congressman Don Young’s term, and has 48 names on the ballot.
Petersburg sighting: Spotted at the Little Norway Festival in Petersburg, Nick Begich for Congress, the man himself, riding in the back of a truck during the parade, along with the mayor of Petersburg, tossing candy to folks during the festivities, including none other than Alan Gross, who was not in the parade but is among the candidates running for Congress.
China Bill: Noticed in Petersburg, there are a lot of Walker-Dryas signs in the community that is commercial-fishing oriented. Heidi Drygas, the other half of the Walker-Drygas for governor-lt.gov campaign, was in the parade pulling. child’s wagon.
Gross report: Alan Gross continues to campaign on abortion-for-all.
Mark Anthony Cox endorses Kelly Tshibaka for Senate.
Endorsements: Alan Gross says he is “Honored to have the endorsement of the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee. As Alaska’s congressman, fighting for reproductive rights and constitutional equality for all people will be at the center of my work.” Chris Constant for Congress for the endorsement of Debra Call, the former running mate of Mark Begich when he ran for governor. Mark Anthony Cox of Anchorage, running for State Senate (Taku/Campbell/Bayshore/Klatt/Old Seward/Oceanview), has endorsed Kelly Tshibaka for U.S. Senate.
Revak’s war on Santa mash-up: Someone sent MRAK this cutting mash-up that asks the question: Is congressional candidate Josh Revak seething at Santa because he got coal in his stocking at Christmas?
Ask Sweeney anything: Tara Sweeney, running for Congress, will have a live Facebook event on Monday, May 23, at 4 pm, when people can ask her questions. Here is he link. http://facebook.com/taraforalaska.
Mary Peltola at Alaska Federation of Natives.
Peltola courts AFN: Mary Peltola, running for Congress, met with a group from Alaska Federation of Natives “to talk with leaders in our state helping to grow our economy and uphold our Native rights. We had a long talk about Alaska’s future.”
Santa Claus at 75: Running for Congress, Santa Claus of North Pole turned 75 this week and said “I am thankful for everyone who is independently being very creative supporting my campaign for the Special Election via Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Reddit, etc., making signs, canvassing, calling, etc. Thank you :-)}.” On Twitter, he’s known as @RadicalSanta, but his campaign handle is @SantaClausforAK. Here’s his video thanking people:
Constant Comment: Things have been quiet over at the Constant for Congress campaign, but we note that after we asked the question about who was writing his articles on his campaign web page (Who is “DOM Team, we asked), the byline has been suddenly changed to Christopher Constant, but it’s still being written in the third person voice. On Twitter, he writes in first person, “I am a firm believer that housing is the solution to homelessness, and that no one should lose their housing based on addiction or behavioral health issues.” A guaranteed right to housing is part of his platform.
Sign-waving season: An impromptu group in Delta Junction was out waving Nick for Congress signs this week, even though the candidate was in Homer and then in Petersburg. We’re bound to see more sign-waving as we head into the final 20 days of campaigning for the special primary election for replacing Alaska’s congressional representative.
Tiffany Zulkosky is out: Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky is done with the Legislature for now. She will not be running for reelection. The seat representing Bethel and surrounding area is hard Democrat.
Ivy Spohnholz is out: Likely back to the nonprofit sector is the next thing for Rep. Ivy Spohnholz of East Anchorage. Hers is a lean-left seat, and will be a tough one for a conservative to win.A walk down memory lane with Spohnholz.
Democrat Rep. Ivy Spohnholz announced today that she will not run for office after six years in the Alaska House of Representatives.
“After a lot of thought and discussion with my family, I have decided that I am not going to run for office in 2022,” she said. “I am really proud of what I have accomplished over the last six years in the legislature. I have worked with Democrats, Republicans, and nonpartisans in coalition majorities that have prioritized public education, the University of Alaska, public safety, protecting our most vulnerable, and economic and fiscal responsibility.”
Spohnholz represents District 16 (old number); her new District is 18 under the new redistricting plan. In that new district, Clinton and Trump were even in 2016. It’s a swing to lean-Democrat district. She has favored an income tax and a smaller Permanent Fund dividend for Alaskans, and has repeatedly attacked Republican lawmakers and appointees, such as her unfounded accusations against former Judge Karl Johnstone, when he was appointed to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.
“When I reflect on my legislative accomplishments I am particularly proud of passing health care price transparency in 2018 (originally HB 123, but passed in SB 105) and HB 265 expanding access to telehealth care for Alaskans this year. Alaska’s health care costs are the highest in the entire country and reducing them is a sure-fire way to put more money in Alaskans’ pockets. Each of these policies passed into law through bipartisan collaboration that put Alaskans ahead of special interests,” she said.
“I am proud of the passage of SB 26 in 2018, which protected the Permanent Fund and created a new stable mechanism for funding essential government services in addition to Permanent Fund dividends. I remain passionate about the need for a comprehensive and sustainable fiscal plan. Although this work is not yet done, I am confident it will continue,” she said.
SB 26 is the bill that restructured the draw from the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve Account to allow for stable use of earnings from the Permanent Fund to pay for government services. Because it was an incomplete bill that did not make a plan for the Permanent Fund dividend, the Legislature has continued to fight over the amount of the dividend year after year since SB 26’s passage. Many critics consider SB 26 to be highly flawed because it took care of government, but not the people of Alaska who are shareholders in the state’s oil.
“In my years of service in the Alaska State legislature, I’ve learned that there are an infinite number of ways to serve Alaskans. For decades prior to coming to the legislature, I worked to make Alaskans’ lives better in the nonprofit, business, and public sectors. The Alaskans I’ve met and worked with over the past six years have inspired me and demonstrated the countless ways we can improve our communities. While I don’t know what is next for me, I look forward to my next chapter in service to our great state,” she said.
Former Alaska legislator Glenn Hackney has died at the age of 97. Hackney had been in a car accident that left him with numerous injuries earlier this week. His family had rushed to Fairbanks to be with him and Art Hackney, his Anchorage son who is a well-known political consultant, was at his side when he passed on Friday morning.
Hackney was a much beloved figure in Fairbanks, where he was known as a volunteer for the food bank. He was also a regular volunteer each Spring in cleaning up the roads of Anchorage in preparation for summer. In fact, he was one of the founders of the annual cleanup.
Art Hackney told the story of when the United States entered World War II, young Americans rushed to enlist, and his father was among them.
“Dad, like so many, was raised on a farm (upstate New York). Their high school let them graduate early so they could enlist. Dad’s brothers entered various services, and like his brother Howard he went for the Marines, and was completely shocked to be rejected because he had ‘an enlarged heart.'”
Glenn tried to enlist in other branches of the service, but received the same rejection.
“This is a young man who had rigged up a rope across the barn so he could train going hand-over-hand. He was fighting fit. Determined to serve, he ended up going into the Merchant Marine (which lost more people than any other service). He delivered munitions across both the Pacific and the Atlantic and watched ships in his convoys taken out by submarines. For so many farm boys, memories of service in WWII were the most vivid of their lifetimes, Dad was no different,” Art remembered. “He received a commendation from Ted and Don and Lisa at a Republican Women’s convention in Anchorage which I wrote that started with the enlarged heart story, then recounted his life of service and ended with, ‘It turns out they were right – Glenn Hackney does have a big heart.'”
Hackney served as a legislator for eight years and volunteered countless hours over the decades, serving as founding member of community organizations and on numerous boards. He was in demand at Republican conventions and meetings, where he was frequently asked to recite the Gettysburg Address, first delivered by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
Hackney worked as a city purchasing agent in Fairbanks, was a special assistant to Gov. Keith Miller, a sales manager for television advertising, and was a longtime plant manager for Concrete Products of Alaska. Born in 1924, he was educated at Cornell University before moving to the Territory of Alaska in 1948.
More details will be added to this story as they become available.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski may have been happy to usher President Donald Trump out of office in 2021, but today she’s also not happy today with his replacement, President Joe Biden.
Murkowski appeared with other lawmakers at a press event slamming the Biden Administration’s policies of locking up energy in America, specifically in Alaska.
“I come from a state where we are an energy producer. But we pay some of the highest energy costs in the country, and right now our gas prices are the sixth highest in the country. Statewide, regular gas has increased by more than 52 percent over last year. As of yesterday, Alaska’s statewide average was $5 a gallon. This is the highest ever average in our state,” Murkowski said. “We’re used to somewhat high prices but when it’s on average, over $5 dollars in places like Anchorage and Fairbanks, think about what that means to our rural communities. Over 80 percent of our communities are not connected by road, so fuel comes in by barge and fuel comes in by air. At Fort Yukon, the Yukon River, gas is $7.25 a gallon. Up in Noatak, just above the Arctic Circle, it’s a stunning $11 a gallon. And so think about what that means—it’s not just what you’re paying when you fill up your car, it’s everything else that’s associated with it.”
Murkowski was the first Republican senator who called on President Donald Trump to resign immediately in January, 2021, over her perceptions about the Jan. 6, 2021 incident in the U.S. Capitol, when rioters came through the doors. She said if the Republican Party cannot separate itself from Trump, she wasn’t sure she has future with the party.
“I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage,” Murkowski told reporters on Jan. 8, 2021. She has stayed with the Republican Party, however, even while the Republican Party has continued to remain inclusive to Trump, a president that Murkowski was diametrically opposed to during his four years in office.
Today, she’s stuck with something worst: the Biden Administration’s war on Alaska.
“Right now, we have an administration whose plan is to blame anybody but them and their policies. They are quick to put it all on Putin. Yes, there is a war. Yes, we recognize that, but this price increases started long before Putin crossed into Ukraine. This is not something where you can just blame big oil and go after price gouging. This is not something where you can attack others when it is failed policies that this administration has put in place. It really comes down to basic supply and demand and we know that supply matters and domestic supply matters. If we’re not learning anything from Ukraine and Russia and what we’re seeing in Eastern Europe, domestic supply matters,” Murkowski said.
“So, the Biden administration needs to reverse its anti-supply actions, it needs to take its bad ideas off the table, it needs to restart approving crucial projects that deliver greater supply,” she said.
Murkowski’s remarks were made during a press conference that included Sens. John Barrasso, John Kennedy, Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst, Steve Daines, James Lankford, John Hoeven, Shelley Moore Capito, John Boozman, and Cindy Hyde-Smith.
“Lisa Murkowski’s vote for Deb Haaland was not simply a one-time mistake, rather, it was a colossal error in judgment that is hammering Alaska over and over again. Murkowski admitted publicly that it was likely that Haaland would be harmful to Alaska as secretary, but she cast that vote anyway. Haaland’s sustained assault on Alaska’s resource industries proves that Murkowski showed gross disregard for the jobs of Alaska workers and our entire state economy,” said Kelly Tshibaka, who is challenging Murkowski for Senate.
“Haaland and Biden have targeted Alaska like no other state. The Biden Administration has launched 24 executive actions directed against the people of Alaska, many of them coming from Haaland. The fact that Haaland even refuses to admit that gas prices are too high shows that this has been her plan all along. Lisa Murkowski knew all of this, just like anyone with a pulse knew it, yet she still cast the vote that continues to crush Alaska workers and families to this day. When I’m the next senator from Alaska, I will always vote for the best interests of Alaskans, and not for the Washington, D.C. insiders who write fat campaign checks.”
Casey Sixkiller, who served as deputy mayor of Seattle and chief operating officer of King County, Wash., has been appointed the new EPA administrator for Region 10, the area that covers Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska.
Sixkiller is a longtime government staffer and lobbyist and ran for mayor of Seattle in 2021. In his new role, he succeeds Michelle Pirzadeh, who had been the acting regional administrator for the agency that oversees and implements federal environmental statues, rules and regulations. Pirzadeh had been in place since the departure of Alaskan Chris Hladick, who left when the Biden Administration took over in 2020. Hladick is the interim city manager for Unalaska, where he served in the same from from 2001 to 2015.
Sixkiller has focused his work in equity and social justice issues of BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) citizens, and is the founding and managing partner of Sixkiller Consulting. He worked for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and former U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, both Washington Democrats. Sixkiller is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation who was born and raised in Seattle. The EE/Greenwire blognotes that his appointment continues a trend by the Biden administration of selecting tribal citizens for leadership positions.
The White House reported today that the Department of Defense is responding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s request for “Operation Fly Formula” to transport Nestlé S.A. formula from Zurich, Switzerland to Plainfield, Indiana.
The Defense Department is now looking for qualified commercial aircraft to complete the mission.
The Operation Fly Formula shipments will transport the equivalent of up to 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of three formulas of Alfamino® Infant, Alfamino® Junior, and Gerber Good Start® Extensive HA brands. All are hypoallergenic formulas for children with cow’s milk protein allergy. These formulas have been prioritized because they serve a critical medical purpose and are in short supply in the United States because of the Abbott Sturgis plant closure, the White House said. These shipments will include approximately 246 pallets.
President Biden launched Operation Fly Formula to speed up the import of infant formula and start getting more formula to stores as soon as possible. Under Operation Fly Formula, USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services are authorized to use DOD-contracted commercial aircraft to pick up overseas infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards, so it can get to store shelves faster.
In addition, President Joe Biden directed his Administration to ensure there is enough safe infant formula for families, including invoking the Defense Production Act, entering into a consent agreement between the Food and Drug Administration to reopen Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis facility, and issuing FDA guidance to allow major formula manufacturers to safely import formula that is not currently being produced for the U.S. market.
