Apache Corporation began work exploring for hydrocarbons in Alaska's Cook Inlet in 2010 with Apache's first acquisition of exploration leases in this known petroleum province. In early 2011, an extensive 2D seismic acquisition test program was acquired and analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nodal seismic recording system for a multiyear all-season regional 3D seismic acquisition program in this region, often considered one of the toughest places on Earth to record seismic data.