Last July, Atlantic Richfield Company, started a 15,000 ft. 

 strategraphic test well for a 20-company group on BLM tract 459. This 

 test will give the oil industry valuable subsurface geological data in 

 advance of the proposed lease sale. A semisubmersible rig, the Ocean 

 Ranger, is drilling the $16.5 million hole in 440 feet of water midway 

 between the Pribilof Islands and Dutch Harbor. The test, located off- 

 structure to avoid encountering oil and gas, is the first to be drilled 

 in the Bering Sea. Three 200 ft. supply boats are operating out of 

 Captain's Bay on Unalaska Island to service the rig. Personnel and 

 light supplies are being transported by helicopter from Dutch Harbor, 

 117 miles to the southeast. 106 



Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts 



Little information exists concerning potential impacts from developing 

 the St. George Basin in the Bering Sea. All that exists are Waldrop's 1975 

 general impact predictions. 107 These are: 



(1) There will be 2.0 to 5.2 billion barrels of oil recovered from 

 St. George Basin. 



(2) From three to five exploratory rigs will be used directly 

 employing 500 to 7 50 people. 



(3) One to three support/supply installations and one LNG plant 

 will be constructed onshore during the development phase. 



(4) 750 to 1,200 acres of land will be needed to locate energy- 

 related facilities. 



(5) Direct employment will peak during the development phase at 

 2,300 workers. This will drop to 1,400 workers during the 

 production phase of operation. 



64 



