2015 10 27 Summer 2016 Project Description rev

Toghotthele No. 1 Exploration Well
Project Description
2016 Summer Program
October 2015, revision 2
Doyon, Limited
1 Doyon Place, Suite 300
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Prepared by:
Owl Ridge Natural Resource Consultants, Inc.
6407 Brayton Drive, Suite 204
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
T: 907.344.3448
F: 907.344.3445
www.owlridgenrc.com
- Page Intentionally Left Blank -
Toghotthele No. 1 – Project Description
Doyon, Limited
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1
2. LOCATION, OWNERSHIP AND LEASES ..................................................................................... 1
3. ACCESS ................................................................................................................................................ 1
3.1. Winter Construction Access......................................................................................................... 3
4. SCHEDULE .......................................................................................................................................... 3
5. LOCATION AND SITE DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................................... 3
5.1. Topographic Features................................................................................................................... 3
5.2. Nenana River ............................................................................................................................... 4
5.3. Barge Loading and Unloading Facilities ..................................................................................... 4
5.4. Staging and Parking Areas ........................................................................................................... 5
5.5. Access Road and Trails ................................................................................................................ 5
5.6. Water Supply ............................................................................................................................... 5
5.7. Pullouts and Temporary Turnarounds.......................................................................................... 9
5.8. Material Sites ............................................................................................................................... 9
5.9. Well Pad ....................................................................................................................................... 9
5.10. Housing ...................................................................................................................................... 11
6. CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS DETAILS ...................................................................... 11
6.1. Nenana River Crossing .............................................................................................................. 11
6.2. Initial Construction and Clearing of the Road ........................................................................... 11
6.3. Brush Removal........................................................................................................................... 12
6.4. Stream Crossings and Wetlands ................................................................................................. 12
6.5. Equipment .................................................................................................................................. 12
6.6. Fuel Transfers ............................................................................................................................ 12
6.7. Fuel Storage ............................................................................................................................... 12
7. WASTE TYPES, SOURCES AND DISPOSAL METHODS ......................................................... 13
7.1. Waste Identification and Segregation ........................................................................................ 13
7.2. Solid Waste ................................................................................................................................ 13
7.3. Drill Protocol ............................................................................................................................. 13
7.3.1. Drill Fluids....................................................................................................................... 14
7.3.2. Produced Water and Construction Wastewater ............................................................... 15
7.3.3. Drilling Muds and Cuttings ............................................................................................. 15
7.4. Domestic Waste Water............................................................................................................... 15
8. CONTINGENCY PLANS.................................................................................................................. 15
8.1. Oil Spill Prevention and Response............................................................................................. 15
8.2. Wildlife Interaction Plan ............................................................................................................ 15
9. CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL & COMMUNITY RELATIONS ............................................ 16
9.1. Employee Access ....................................................................................................................... 16
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9.2.
9.3.
Local Hire .................................................................................................................................. 16
Community Relations ................................................................................................................ 16
10. SITE CLOSURE, RESTORATION AND MONITORING ........................................................... 16
11. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................ 17
12. RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ................................................................................................................ 18
Tables
Table 1: Well Locations and Ownership....................................................................................................... 1
Table 2: Water Sources and Volumes ........................................................................................................... 7
Table 3: Toghotthele No. 1 Summer 2016 - Water Utilization Requirements ............................................. 9
Table 4: Stored Fuels and Petroluem Fluids for Construction and Exploration Well Program .................. 13
Table 5: Hazardous Waste and Non-Hazardous Waste Management and Disposal ................................... 14
Table 6: Toghotthele No. 1 Well Permits and Approvals ........................................................................... 17
Table 7: Responsible Parties for the Development of the Toghotthele No. 1 Exploration Well ................ 18
Figures
No table of figures entries found.
Figure 1: Project Location & Land Ownership ............................................................................................. 2
Figure 2: Nenana River Crossing .................................................................................................................. 6
Figure 3: Project Features ............................................................................................................................. 8
Figure 4: Well Pad ...................................................................................................................................... 10
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1. INTRODUCTION
Doyon, Limited (Doyon) intends to conduct an oil and gas exploration program in the Nenana Basin located
approximately 6 mi. northwest of Nenana, Alaska. The project will include winter 2016 construction of
approximately 2 miles of all season gravel road with drilling pad, drilling operations during the summer of
2016 to complete one well, and if sufficient time remains in the season to test the well or drill a delineation
well from the same pad. Two locations have been selected for the well site and evaluation continues to
determine the final location. Information for both well locations is included in this project description.
Details of the project are provided in the following sections.
2. LOCATION, OWNERSHIP AND LEASES
The project is located on a combination of public and private land. Drill site Toghotthele No. 1 is located
on surface lands owned by Toghotthele Corporation (Toghotthele) and subsurface owned by Doyon. Drill
site Toghotthele No. 1A is located on land with surface and subsurface owned by the State of Alaska. Both
wells will initially target Doyon-owned subsurface and if the selected well is successful, a delineation well
will be drilled into the State subsurface mineral estate (lease ADL392386). The well access road and two
proposed material sites are located on State-owned land. Table 1 presents the well locations, ownership
and lease information. A map of the project vicinity and land ownership is provided as Figure 1.
TABLE 1: WELL LOCATIONS AND OWNERSHIP
Well
Toghotthele No. 1
Toghotthele No. 1A
Latitude
Longitude
Surface
Ownership
Targeted
Subsurface
Ownership
64.60825N
-149.3103 W
Toghotthele
Doyon
64.60282 N
-149.2992 W
State of Alaska
Doyon
Coordinates provided in NAD83
3. ACCESS
Summer access to the project has four components as decribed below:
1. Parks Highway to the 10th Avenue boat launch on the Nenana River (~0.6 mi.). This is a public road
that is maintained by the City of Nenana.
2. Barge transfer across the Nenana River (~500 ft.).
3. Totchaket Road (ADL 409501) (~6.5 mi.), a public easement issued in 1984 and held by the City of
Nenana, was created by the State with the intent for access to agricultural lands. The City of Nenana
2012 ‘Use of the ROW’ specifically allows Doyon access and use for exploration activities adjacent to
the ROW. Use by Doyon would include maintenance on the existing constructed road, including repair
of the bridge over the Little Nenana River.
4. Proposed 2 mi. all season gravel road on State of Alaska, and potentially, Toghotthele land. This road
would be constructed during the winter 2016.
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FIGURE 1: PROJECT LOCATION & LAND OWNERSHIP
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3.1. Winter Construction Access
Access for winter construction operations will begin in the City of Nenana and will include a winter ice
bridge crossing of the Nenana River to access the Totchaket Road. An all season gravel road will be
constructed from mile 6.5 of the Totchaket Road north to well site Toghotthele No. 1 or Toghotthele No. 1A.
Road maintenance and bridge repairs along the Totchaket Road are needed and will be conducted in the
winter 2016 construction season.
4. SCHEDULE
The project will begin in November 2015 with the construction of a temporary ice bridge over the Nenana
River and extend through August 2016 with the demobilization of equipment and material via barge. A
summary of project activities is provided below.
2015
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
Winter Construction
Ice Bridge
April
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Summer Drilling Operations
Road & Pad
Construction
Demob
Camp / Rig
Mobilization
Drilling Operations
Demob
Nov
2016
5. LOCATION AND SITE DEVELOPMENT
5.1. Topographic Features
The proposed project is located on an
undeveloped area of predominantly well
drained loamy soils and dune features that
dominate the topography and soils. The
elevation of potential well sites and
surrounding area is approximately 420 ft.
above mean sea level.
Wetland areas and small lakes exist within
the project area. Transportation routes and
the well pads have been located on uplands.
Wetlands exist around potential lake water
sources, but access and use are limited to
winter season with sufficient snow cover to
minimize surface impacts.
The project is located in an area that was
burned by wildfire (2009) and is comprised of successive vegetation types typical for boreal forest areas.
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5.2. Nenana River
The Nenana River is listed as a navigable water way by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and
Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR). The river is approximately 500 ft. wide and has a stream
gradient averaging 50 ft. per minute at the barging locations. The average depth is between 8 ft. to 12 ft.
and the bottom is comprised of sand and gravel. Barging operations are dependent upon water flow. Based
on existing data (USGS 2007) and a minimum flow of 11,000 cfs., the potential operational window with
sufficient flow for barging is from May 13th to October 2nd, an operation window of 142 days. Peak flow
occurs in July due to glacier-melt (Water and Environmental Research Center Annual Technical Report
FY 2008).
Historically, the Nenana River begins to freeze over during October and November and an ice bridge can
be utilized. Ice on the river breaks up in late April or early May and is contingent on weather and conditions.
5.3. Barge Loading and Unloading Facilities
Summer operation will require the transfer of all equipment, material, and personnel across the Nenana
River via barge. Two shallow draft barges will be used to support these summer operations: a flexi float
measuring 30 ft. by 75 ft. that drafts approximately 2.5 ft.; and a flexi float barge capable of operating in
4 ft. of water.
Doyon anticipates using the same barge
landing sites as were used in 2009
(Nunivak No. 1) and 2013 (Nunivak
No. 2). However, the placement of the
bridge pilings in the Nenana River in
support of the unfinished bridge requires
an alternate landing site on the west side
of the Nenana River. Doyon is currently
surveying and evaluating alternative
landing sites and will submit
applications once known. Figure 2
presents the landing site used previously,
location of the bridge pilings, and
alternative
landing
sites
under
consideration.
Design of the barge landings will be similar to the method used in 2013 for Nunivak No. 2 exploration and
will include the installation of a piling at each facility and a bulkhead at the western barging location. The
bulkhead will be placed on the north side of the barge ramp and the piling will be placed approximately
40 ft. into the river from the barge ramp. Maintenance dredging will be necessary at both facilities to
remove accumulated sediment and adjust for changes in water level.
All in-water structures will be temporary and removed by October 15th.
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5.4. Staging and Parking Areas
Winter construction will require the use of the 10th Avenue boat ramp in December to temporarily place
material and equipment during construction of the ice bridge over the Nenana River. Construction workers
will use the public parking at the boat ramp.
The summer operations require the use of staging areas to transfer equipment from rolling stock to the barge
and then back to rolling stock. Most transfers will be conducted directly without the need for staging areas.
Similar to the 2013 project, some material will be temporarily staged at the south side parking area at the
boat ramp and on private land immediately east of the boat ramp. Doyon is also proposing to utilize a
previously used staging area where the Totchaket Road and Nunivak No. 1 well access road intersect.
Doyon is evaluating alternate barge landing areas on the east and west side of the river, that would reduce
or eliminate the need for any staging at the 10th Avenue boat ramp.
5.5. Access Road and Trails
From the existing Totchaket Road, Doyon will construct approximately 2 miles of gravel road to the drill
site. The road will be constructed and maintained throughout the drilling season to be used to transport
personnel, equipment, supplies and backhauls of materials and wastes from the drilling and camp location.
The proposed 2 mile access road to the well pad will not cross fish bearing streams. Culverts will be
installed at regular intervals on the well site access road to maintain hydrological functions and allow for
regular cross-drainage. An estimated total of 10 culverts may be installed. Access to permitted water
sources will not require construction or other ground disturbing activities, all are accessible from the
Totchaket Road. One new water source located south of Toghotthele No. 1 will be accessed by crew on
foot if needed. A pullout will be constructed on the access road and a hose can be walked to Lake WM1503.
If the lake is needed to support winter construction operations, a snow trail will be developed.
Public access to the well site will be controlled during construction and drilling related operations as needed
to maintain public and personnel safety.
5.6. Water Supply
Water to support construction activities and drilling operations will be provided through withdrawal of
permitted water sources. Existing water sources permitted to support Nunivak No. 2 will be used to meet
quantity requirements. Potable water used for drinking and camp activities may be trucked to the camp
from an approved drinking water source and supplemented with bottled water when needed. Doyon is also
seeking a permit to drill a water well at the chosen drill location to supplement drilling and camp operations.
Four new locations for water withdrawal were field-selected and are identified in Figure 3 and in Table 2.
Figure 3 and Table 2 also include permitted sources that will be relied upon to meet project needs. Water
sources WM1501, WM1502, and WM1504 were investigated for potential winter use and are not expected
to be used for this summer project.
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FIGURE 2: NENANA RIVER CROSSING
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TABLE 2: WATER SOURCES AND VOLUMES
ADNR Permit
Number
ADFG Permit
Number
5,400,000
660,770
FH12-III-0295
Nenana River
3,510,000
139,100
Basket Lake
1,500,000
10,000
5-Mile Slough (Long Lake)
160,000
62,500
West Middle River
150,000
5,000
East Middle River
150,000
145,000
Little Nenana River
WM1501
100,000
Requested volume:
163,903
Requested volume:
3,495,084
Requested volume:
1,543,048
Requested volume:
1,711,080
Requested volume:
5,000,000
50,000
A2012-184
TBD
TBD
TBD
Previously Used
(Gallons)
Nunivak No. 2 Water Well
FH12-III-0285
TBD
Annual Permitted
Volume (Gallons)
N/A
A2012-185
TBD
Water Source
FH15-III-0215
FH15-III-0215
FH15-III-0215
FH15-III-0215
N/A
WM1502
WM1503
WM1505
Toghotthele No. 1 Water Well
7
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
October 2015, rev.2
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Doyon, Limited
FIGURE 3: PROJECT FEATURES
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The following table provides estimates for water usage for rig and camp operations, mobilization and
demobilization and a proposed schedule for water withdrawals for each purpose.
TABLE 3: TOGHOTTHELE NO. 1 SUMMER 2016 – ESTIMATED WATER UTILIZATION
Project Phase and
Operation
Start Date
End Date
Duration
(Days)
Water Usage Rate
(Gallons/Day)
Volume
Requirement
(Gallons)
Nenana Winter
Crossing, Access Road
and Pad Construction
1/1/16
4/15/2016
120
23,000
2,760,000
Camp Operations
5/1/16
9/1/16
70
20,000
1,400,000
Rig Operations
1/15/16
4/15/16
60
32,000
1,920,000
Demobilization: Rig /
Camp & Service Equip.
8/30/16
9/30/16
18
5,000
90,000
80,000
6,170,000
Total: Water
Requirements
5.7. Pullouts and Temporary Turnarounds
The existing Totchaket Road has numerous pullouts and turn-arounds that will be utilized without the need
to construct additional pullouts. Pullouts will be constructed approximatly every 0.25 mile on the new well
site access road for safety and convenience. One pullout will be available for use for water withdrawals
from lake WM1503. They will be constructed on upland locations that provide a convenient line of sight
for traffic.
5.8. Material Sites
Material will be provided by up to three sites: the existing Doyon-owned rock quarry at Parks Highway
milepost 415.54 and two new material sites tenatively designated MS04 and MS05 on State lands near the
Totchaket Road as shown on Figure 3.
5.9. Well Pad
The well pad dimension is currently expected to be approximately 500 ft. x 500 ft. and will require a 100 ft.
buffer on all sides (50 ft. clearing buffer for a firebreak and an additional 50 ft. on all sides for organics and
overburden storage).
Figure 4 demonstrates the general well pad layout with locations of camp, drill rig, pipe storage, shop,
generator, water modules, fuel and hazardous material storage (products), waste storage, spill response
equipment and the location of a domestic wastewater installation (leach field).
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FIGURE 4: WELL PAD
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5.10. Housing
Winter road and well pad construction crews will use local lodging and will commute daily for construction.
For drilling activities, support personnel will be housed in an 80 man temporary camp located at the well
pad. The camp will have additional beds available and a capacity of 80-95 people. The barge captain will
live in a camper parked at the boat landing and the small number of staffing required during summer
operations for the barge and transfer will be housed in existing facilities in the City of Nenana.
6.
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS DETAILS
6.1. Nenana River Crossing
Winter construction will begin with the construction of an ice bridge crossing the Nenana River. Ice bridge
construction will begin when the ice is thick enough to support construction vehicles. The 10th Avenue
barge landing spans the Nenana River approximately 500 ft. to the Totchaket Road barge landing on the
west side of the river. The Nenana River crossing may use both ice and steel components to support the
large planned loads. The river ice will be thickened, and clean snow and ice ramps will be constructed
adjacent to the deep portion of the main channel. Water will be pumped from the Nenana River at this
location for a variety of uses: to augment natural ice thicknesses and to assist with ice ramp creation and
maintenance. If used, the support structure will be removed from the river by ice out in spring when barge
operations resume. This bridge is currently approved by ADNR and no additional approval is needed.
Summer crossing of the Nenana will require barging operations when the ice bridge is no longer available.
Based on previous years of use, barging operations can begin in late May or early June and continue through
September. The barging facilities used for crossing the Nenana River were previously permitted by USACE
and ADNR; however, these locations may change due to bridge pilings that were installed near the west
bank of the Nenana River. Options considered include:

move the barging facility downriver and conduct dredging to deepen the landing area;

move the barging facility upstream onto private land and relocate the barge loading facility on the
east side of the river further upstream;

remove the pilings placed for bridge support and continue use of the existing barge landing location;
or

utilize the proposed bridge should the City of Nenana complete construction.
6.2. Initial Construction and Clearing of the Road
Construction will begin with the start of the 16 ft. wide, 2 mile access road originating from the Totchaket
Road near milepost 6.5. Preperation of the road subbase will primarily consist of the removal of vegetation
and organic duff. Road base will consist of locally-sourced clean sand from MS04 and MS05 overlain on
native soils. Surfacing will consist of graded and compacted quarry rock. The access road is generally flat
requiring minimal cuts or fills.
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6.3. Brush Removal
The route is sited primarily through post-burnt forest made of second succession alder with mixed brush.
Most of the access route lies within a previously burned area from wildfire and few live standing trees exist.
Survey crews will stake an 80 foot vegetation clearing limit for the access road. Only vegetation that is an
impediment to the operation of equipment and construction will be cleared. Some hand brushing will occur
during summer 2015 for survey activities as allowed under a Generally Allowed Use of State Lands. It is
unlikely that live trees greater than 6 inches in diameter will be encountered. Felled trees will be moved to
the edge of the clearing limits, and/or removed and disposed of in a manner that does not create a fire
hazard. Brushy material may be crushed or mulched and used for restoration activities.
6.4. Stream Crossings and Wetlands
The existing 6.44 mile of road, Totchaket Road, crosses three bodies of water including: the Little Nenana
River, the East Middle River, and the West Middle River. Bridges have been previously constructed over
these water sources and no additional bridges are planned; however, bridge maintenance will be conducted
as needed on the existing bridges. The bridge over the Little Nenana River requires repairs prior to any
heavy loads of construction equipment or material. Repair of this bridge will be conducted in the winter
and may require some instream equipment to complete the repair.
The proposed access easement will not cross any water body or wetland area. Lake WM1503 is 0.23 mile
from the proposed access road and if water is needed from this lake during summer, personnel would extend
a hose from the road to the lake and would need to conduct hand brushing of vegetation.
6.5. Equipment
Equipment is expected to be regularly transported along, or used in, construction and maintenance of the
gravel road from January 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016.
6.6. Fuel Transfers
Fuel transfers will take place using highway-legal commercial tanker trucks. Construction equipment will
only use diesel fuel. In an effort to eliminate fuel spills, fueling will only occur within lined containment.
Fueling will be conducted using established fuel transfer procedures, including placing secondary
containment beneath fueling ports and using drip pans for small fuel transfers when the potential for a spill
is less than 1 gallon.
Fueling of equipment and fuel transfers will be performed by designated and trained personnel in
accordance with Best Management Practices (BMPs) and the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure
(SPCC). Spill response kits will be placed in all vehicles and equipment travelling along the access road
and spill clean-up drums will be placed at all fuel storage sites.
6.7. Fuel Storage
Drilling operations for the exploration well, camp and construction activities will require the temporary
storage of fuels, petroleum by-products and other materials at the drill pad location. Stored fuels will be in
double walled tanks placed within a lined and diked area that can hold 110% of stored volume. Fuel storage
will be located outside of traffic areas and all containers will be blocked off by barriers or traffic cones to
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provide an additional measure to prevent vehicle intrusion in the area. Fuel storage containers will be
labeled clearly and stored within secondary containment.
All construction and fuel contractors will have training for fuel handling and will be updated on prevention
procedures as demonstrated in the SPCC and Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan (ODPCP)
for refueling procedures. All commercial sources used during fueling will have and follow written transfer
procedures. No fuel will be stored along the access road.
TABLE 4: STORED FUELS AND PETROLEUM FLUIDS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND EXPLORATION
WELL PROGRAM
Substance
Diesel Fuel
Oils, Greases etc. required for
drilling rig maintenance
Gasoline and Diesel Fuel
Volume
39,600 gallons
varies
<10,000 gallons
Storage Container
Four 9,900 gallon double walled tanks
Stored in the manufacturer designated
containers within a lined Connex box
Fuel bladders and fuel trucks
7. WASTE TYPES, SOURCES AND DISPOSAL METHODS
All contractors on the project will be required to use waste minimization, recycling and disposal practices.
Environment friendly products would be used to reduce waste. Waste management activities will be
recorded with proper manifestation for transport and offsite disposal, as described in the following sections.
Management includes keeping the appropriate State agencies informed on waste transport and off-site
disposal.
7.1. Waste Identification and Segregation
All general hazardous and non-hazardous solid wastes will be classified, segregated, and labeled as general
refuse, and will be stored for transport to an appropriate disposal facility as noted in Table 5.
7.2. Solid Waste
Solid wastes will be temporarily stored in 30-yard closed top containers on the drill pad prior to disposal.
Any food wastes that could attract wildlife will be stored in enclosed containers and hauled as needed to
the Denali Borough Landfill. Household and approved industrial garbage will be hauled to the Denali
Borough Landfill. Recycling and reuse opportunities will be utilized if available. A waste incinerator will
be on site and will be used when appropriate.
7.3. Drill Protocol
Doyon and its contractors will direct and maintain downhole mud properties and volumes, and will maintain
the quantities of basic mud material on site.
Chemical testing will characterize the wastes in order to determine their final and appropriate disposition.
Depending on characterization, drilling solids will be disposed of at the Denali Borough Landfill or Organic
Incinerator Technology, Inc. in North Pole, Alaska (OIT) for incineration.
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TABLE 5: HAZARDOUS WASTE AND NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL
Type
Hazardous Wastes
Batteries
Source Activity
Handling
Management Notes
Construction, Drilling
and Production
Separate and place in
designated hazardous
waste containers
Methanol (freeze
protect)
Construction and
Production
Store in lined
containment during
construction, Store in
500-gallon AST on
drill pad during
production
Manage batteries through
the Denali Borough
Landfill hazardous waste
program
Recover fluids for freeze
protection or other
approved reuse
Non-Hazardous Wastes
Metal
Construction, Drilling
and Production
7.3.1.
Segregate, package,
crush, and palletize
Combustibles
(paper, cardboard,
wood)
Oily Waste Rags,
Spill Absorbent
Pads
Litter
Construction, Drilling
and Production
Reduce volume by
compacting
Construction, Drilling
and Production
Separate and store in
designated containers
for transport to OIT
Containerize (in
sealed boxes or plastic
garbage bags)
Propylene glycol
Production
Construction, Drilling
and Production
Store in 50-gallon
drums within
secondary
containment
Transport away from site
for beneficial reuse
(preferred) or disposal in
Denali Borough Landfill
Package and transport to
Denali Borough Landfill
Incinerator bottom ash will
remain with OIT for proper
disposal
Collect litter, household
garbage on an as-needed
basis to maintain the site in
an orderly condition.
Transport offsite for
disposal at the Denali
Borough Landfill
Recycle for reuse,
Class II disposal if nonhazardous,
Hazardous waste –
approved facility
Drill Fluids
Drilling fluids are exempt from Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); exploration fluids will
consist of residual drilling muds, formational waters, and completion brines. Drilling Fluids will be
temporarily stored at the drill pad in 400 bbl. metal tanks until reuse or disposal via annular injection. An
estimated 20 tanks will be placed within a secondary containment area. The secondary containment area
will be constructed using an impermeable liner over a non-woven geotextile fabric to prevent punctures
from underlying gravel. The sides of the secondary containment area will be constructed using 10 in. by
10 in. timber placed beneath the edge of the liner. The containment area will be approximately 50 ft. by
150 ft.
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7.3.2.
Produced Water and Construction Wastewater
Produced waste water will be temporarily stored in a prefabricated 400 barrel produced water storage tank
that will be located at the well site. Stored produced waste water will be disposed of by annular injection
at the end of the project.
7.3.3.
Drilling Muds and Cuttings
During the drilling operations, drilling mud and drill cuttings will be circulated to the surface and solids
will be temporarily stored in an approved facility on the well pad. Drill cuttings will be temporarily stored
in two 100 bbl. open topped metal tanks within a 60 ft. by 100 ft. secondary containment constructed the
same as the afore mentioned secondary containment for drilling fluids. Materials will be hauled off-site as
one tank fills up. Upon removal from the drill pad, cuttings will be analyzed for hydrocarbon content.
Cuttings that test positive for hydrocarbons will be sent to OIT for disposal. Any other cuttings produced
will be hauled to the Denali Borough Landfill in Healy, Alaska for disposal.
7.3.4.
Excess Cement
Excess cement will be generated after each casing string is placed; the estimated total volume generated
during the entire program is about 200 bbl. Excess cement will be placed in a lined pit constructed on the
pad. The pit will have geotextile fabric padding beneath the liner material. Plywood or timbers will be
placed on top of the liner to protect it from tearing during the removal process. Excess cement will then be
placed in the pit and allowed to solidify. Once solidified, the cement will be broken up, placed in trucks
and hauled to Denali Borough Landfill for disposal.
7.4. Domestic Waste Water
An approximately 90 ft. by 300 ft. septic system and leach field may be developed at the well pad site
within the 100 ft. buffer if site conditions allow. If permafrost is not deep enough then all domestic waste,
both gray and black water, will be transported for disposal into an approved domestic waste treatment and
disposal facility. The City of Nenana will be the receiving location for domestic wastewater treatment and
disposal. If a leach field is possible, an application will be submitted to the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation (ADEC) for review.
8. CONTINGENCY PLANS
8.1. Oil Spill Prevention and Response
An ODPCP is approved and will be amended for the Toghotthele No. 1 well and will be made available to
all personnel. Anyone with oil spill response and prevention responsibilities will have training before
drilling operations begin or petroleum products are transferred and stored on-site. The appropriate oil spill
response equipment will be on hand to control and respond to an accidental release immediately.
8.2. Wildlife Interaction Plan
Wildlife that could be in the area during construction and drilling includes moose, caribou, owls, ravens,
swans and bears. Summer operations are scheduled to minimize impacts on migratory birds.
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Doyon has developed a Wildlife Interaction Plan that includes policies and procedures to minimize humanwildlife interaction. Project personnel will be instructed not to feed wildlife of any type or in any other
way attempt to attract them either at the drill site or on the access road. Food will be kept inside buildings
or containers that minimize odors.
9. CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL & COMMUNITY RELATIONS
9.1. Employee Access
Crews will be flown from Anchorage to the City of Nenana Municipal Airport one to two times per week.
All personnel and equipment transfers to the work site will occur by vehicle using the Totchaket Road and
the 2 mile access road. Aircraft will be used as needed for emergency situations or unexpected travel needs.
9.2. Local Hire
Doyon intends to give fair opportunity for contracts to qualified contractors and will hire from within a
qualified employee pool, with preference given to local contractors; shareholders of Doyon, Toghotthele,
and Seth-De-Ya-Ah Corporation, the village corporation for the nearby community of Minto, Alaska; and
to Alaska Natives.
9.3. Community Relations
Regulatory public notices will give the public an opportunity to comment on permitted activities and a
community meeting will be held in the City of Nenana before operations begin. Additional information
regarding updates, changes, or modifications to the project will be provided in a timely manner through
informational mailings and Doyon’s website (www.doyon.com). A phone number will be made available
for the public to provide comments and questions during operations.
Interested stakeholders and parties of interest will be identified through this process and project updates
will be provided that notify interested parties of project activities.
10. SITE CLOSURE, RESTORATION AND MONITORING
The closure and reclamation plans for the facilities constructed in association with the project are dependent
upon the testing results and economic viability of the Toghotthele No. 1 well. Should results obtained from
the testing of the well indicate that the well is viable for economic profitability, the appropriate regulatory
permit submissions for development and operations will be completed.
If results of well testing deem otherwise, then site closure plan and reclamation will be conducted. The
exploration well would be plugged in accordance with the guidelines set by 20 AAC 25.112 and abandoned.
The Division of Agriculture has expressed written interest in leaving the well access road, well pad, water
well and leach/septic system in place for future agricultural sales in the area. Should this interest continue,
site reclamation would consist of removing all equipment and trash and transferring all other aspects of the
project to the State.
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If the Division of Agriculture rescinds its request for the project components to be left in place but
Toghotthele requests that the access road be left in place for continued access to Toghotthele lands for
private use (agriculture, recreation and other development purposes), then an easement application will be
submitted for permanent use. Once drilling related activities are complete and drilling equipment and the
camp are demobilized, a final inspection will be conducted to make sure no equipment or trash has been
left in the field. If there is no interest in the permanent retention of the road, well pad, water well and
leach/septic system, then the project area will be reclaimed to the standards set by the Division of Mining,
Land and Water.
11.PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
The project will require numerous federal, State, and local permits, plans and approvals from the various
entities. Table 6 identifies some of the permits that are likely needed for this project. This list is not final
and will be amended as project components are determined.
TABLE 6: TOGHOTTHELE NO. 1 WELL PERMITS AND APPROVALS
Agency
Permit/Authorization
USACE 404/Section 10


ADNR- Division of Mining, Land and
Water




ADNR- State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO)
ADEC- Division of Spill Prevention and
Response
ADEC- Division of Air Quality
ADEC- Division of Environmental Health
ADEC- Division of Water
ADF&G- Division of Habitat
Alaska Department of Administration,
Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation
Commission (AOGCC)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA)- Division of Regulation and
Policy Development
Toghotthele Corporation
Barge landing facility (permit expired January 31, 2015)
Wetlands - Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination
(PJD)
Land Use Permit
DNR Land Use Permit ADL#28769 for winter crossing
of Nenana River
Barge Landing Land Use Permit (potential)
Temporary Water Use Permits (TWUP) (new and revised)
Material Sale Contract(s)
Section 106 Historic Preservation Authorizations
Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan (ODPCP)
amendment
Minor General Permit 1 (MG1) for Drill Rig (Arctic Fox)
Temporary Storage of Drilling Waste Plan
Domestic Wastewater Approval to Construct and Approval to
Operate
 Title 16 Fish Habitat Permits - (new and revised) for inwater work and water withdrawal
 Public Safety Permit modification
Permit to Drill, Sundry Notice, Annular Injection, Spacing
Exception
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans
Surface Use Agreement(s)
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Agency
Permit/Authorization
City of Nenana
Letter of Non-Objection for use of Right-or-Way and Leases
for staging areas
12.RESPONSIBLE PARTIES
TABLE 7: RESPONSIBLE PARTIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
TOGHOTTHELE NO. 1 EXPLORATION WELL
Name
James Mery
Glenn Ruckhaus
Company
Doyon, Limited
1 Doyon Place, Suite 300
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701-2941
Owl Ridge Natural Resource Consultants
6407 Brayton Drive, Suite 204
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
18
Responsibility
Contact
Lease Holder/
Operator
Phone:(907) 459-2000
Email: meryj@doyon.com
Permitting
Phone: (907)830-7756
Email:
gruckhaus@owlridgenrc.com
October 2015, rev.2
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