A longtime oilfield engineer is the new deputy commissioner for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
Mark Wiggin, once a lead startup engineer at the Alpine and Milne Point fields, will become the agency's deputy chief starting next week, according to an release sent Wednesday by DNR ommissioner Andy Mack.
The Milne Point field began producing oil in 1991 and Alpine began production in 2000.
During a career spanning three decades in Alaska, Wiggin has worked in engineering, operations, exploration and project management roles at various fields.
"(Mark's) knowledge of upstream oil and gas issues, his experience in project development, and his work on resource economics and policy will add valuable expertise to DNR," Mack said in the statement.
In June, Mack became the department's commissioner after the retirement of Marty Rutherford, who had served as acting commissioner. Mark Myers, Gov. Bill Walker's first appointment, retired in March.
Wiggin has served as engineering and development manager for Brooks Range Petroleum since 2012. He will leave that position to accept the job at the state.
Brooks Range is working to develop the Mustang oil field on the North Slope, a project that could produce up to 15,000 barrels of crude daily. The state-owned Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority has provided financial support the project, including spending $47 million to date, out of a $50 million authorization, to help construct a processing plant.
Wiggin began working in Alaska in 1983 with ARCO Alaska and remained until 1994. Among the other companies he worked for: ASRC Energy Services, from 2005 to 2012. The job with ASRC Energy included working on the Nikaitchuq oil field and the Alaska Pipeline Project, a former gas line proposal involving pipeline builder TransCanada and ExxonMobil.