INSIDE ALASKA BUSINESS.

ConocoPhillips Alaska

The Greater Mooses Tooth #2 drill site in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska achieved first oil on December 12, according to ConocoPhillips. The milestone arrives three years after first oil from Greater Mooses Tooth #1, eight miles to the northeast. Peak production is estimated at approximately 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, for a development cost of about $1.4 billion.

alaska.conocophillips.com

Oil Search | Santos

A pair of Southern Hemisphere oil companies with interests in the Far North are joining forces. Shareholders of Papua New Guinea-based Oil Search approved a merger with Australian firm Santos. The $6.1 billion deal gives Santos 61.5 percent control of the combined company. Oil Search acquired the Pikka project on the North Slope in 2018 and has since taken up residence in the former BP headquarters in Midtown Anchorage. Oil Search expects to begin producing from Pikka in 2025, and Santos has previously expressed support for the project.

oilsearch.com | santos.com

GCI

After bringing fifth-generation (5G) wireless coverage to Alaska's most populous area, GCI next plans to expand service to the state's richest industrial zone. A 5G network for the Prudhoe Bay area would enable WiFi-like data capacity at cellphone range, enhancing the remote monitoring and control of the sprawling oil fields. GCI activated its first 5G service in April 2020, covering Anchorage, and more sites are coming for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The telecom company expects 5G to be operational on the North Slope by the end of 2022.

gci.com

BSNC

Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC) acquired Central Environmental Inc. (CEI) and its four subsidiaries: Central Recycling Services, C.I. Contractors, Environmental Management Inc., and Concrete Coring Services. CEI is an Alaska-based, full-service integrated, general construction, demolition, utilities, and environmental company founded in 1984 by Stuart Jacques, who continues as CEI's president. BSNC President and CEO Gail R. Schubert says, "We determined that CEI's impressive capabilities and projects align well with BSNC's growing portfolio of companies."

beringstraits.com

Doyon Foundation

Episodes of the PBS cartoon series Molly of Denali are being translated into Native...