Although details remain scarce, Conoco Phillips is reporting success from an appraisal well it drilled this year in its Kuparuk River unit on Alaska's North Slope. The Shark Tooth No. 1 well "discovered hydrocarbons in the Kuparuk sands, in accordance with expectations, and confirmed mapped volumes," the company said.

In January and February, Conoco Phillips used Doyon rig 141 to drill the "appraisal step-out well" from an ice pad in the southwestern portion of the Kuparuk River unit.

The company declined to offer further details about the results of the well but in a notice on its website said, "This area is being evaluated to assess further development potential."

Before drilling the well, Conoco Phillips said Shark Tooth would "provide additional reservoir information in this area and narrow uncertainty around reservoir description parameters including oil-water contact, sand quality and thickness, and oil viscosity," and was "critical for any future development of this part of the Kuparuk reservoir."