Alaska Petroleum Research
NPR-A and Petroleum Systems throughout Alaska
The Alaska Petroleum Systems project has three main objectives:
(A) conduct research that increases our understanding of Alaska petroleum systems,
(B) conduct assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources, and
(C) deliver energy-resource information to land and resource managers, policy makers, and the public.
The project is an effort that emphasizes a balance between fundamental research and mission-critical achievements. Fundamental research (regional sequence stratigraphic and structural framework, distribution and quality of source rocks, geochronologic and thermochronologic history of critical regions, etc.) is essential because Alaska remains an underexplored energy frontier. Thus, a robust petroleum-systems framework is the key to understanding regional petroleum potential, completing our mission-critical work (mainly assessments of undiscovered petroleum resources), and responding quickly to information requests regarding new and emerging oil and gas activities (e.g., new discoveries and development of transitional reservoirs). Since 2017 the project has concentrated on complying with Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3352, which directs the USGS to update a series of assessments across the entire Alaska North Slope. This website illustrates the breadth and depth of recently completed and ongoing research.
The USGS in 2020 completed an assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in Alaska’s Central North Slope. Estimated means of 3.6 billion barrels of oil and 8.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (associated and non-associated) in conventional accumulations in Mississippian through Paleogene strata of State and Native lands and State waters. This assessment does not include discoveries made by industry between 2013 and 2017. Below is a list of other USGS assessments in Alaska:
- NEW - Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in the Central North Slope of Alaska (2020)
- Assessment of undiscovered gas hydrate resources in the North Slope of Alaska (2018)
- Susitna Basin, Southern Alaska (2018)
- National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) (2017)
- Upper Cook Inlet Basin (2015)
- Alaska North Slope Assessment (2012)
- National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (now superseded) (2010)
- Gas Hydrates (2008)
- Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal (2008)
- Central North Slope (2005)
- Coalbed Methane of Northern Alaska (2006)
- Yukon Flats (2003)
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - ANWR-1002 Area (1998)
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
Can the oil and gas that the USGS assesses be produced today?
USGS oil and gas assessments are for technically recoverable resources, meaning they can be produced using today’s technology and standard industry practices. However, our assessments do not look at what infrastructure would be required to produce these resources, nor does it look at whether it would be profitable to produce them. In addition, USGS assessments are for undiscovered resources, which...
Does an assessment of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska mean there should or should not be oil and gas production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The USGS is an unbiased, non-regulatory science agency, and therefore we do not advocate for or against oil and gas development in any location. The USGS role is to provide scientifically robust, publicly available estimates of potential resources so decision-makers have the best possible information to manage the Nation’s resources. Learn more: About USGS USGS Energy Assessments Alaska Petroleum...
How do the USGS and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) divide up which areas to be assessed for Oil and Gas Resources?
The USGS is responsible for oil and gas assessments onshore and in state waters (up to 3 miles offshore), while the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) assesses energy resources in the Federal offshore waters and the outer continental shelf. Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments
What is the difference between the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) is a roughly 23.4 million acre area of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It lies in northwest Alaska and borders both the Chukchi Sea to the west and the Beaufort Sea to the north. The NPR-A was originally established in 1923 as a petroleum reserve for the U.S. Navy, then transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1976. The...
The Alaska Petroleum Systems project has three main objectives:
(A) conduct research that increases our understanding of Alaska petroleum systems,
(B) conduct assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources, and
(C) deliver energy-resource information to land and resource managers, policy makers, and the public.
The project is an effort that emphasizes a balance between fundamental research and mission-critical achievements. Fundamental research (regional sequence stratigraphic and structural framework, distribution and quality of source rocks, geochronologic and thermochronologic history of critical regions, etc.) is essential because Alaska remains an underexplored energy frontier. Thus, a robust petroleum-systems framework is the key to understanding regional petroleum potential, completing our mission-critical work (mainly assessments of undiscovered petroleum resources), and responding quickly to information requests regarding new and emerging oil and gas activities (e.g., new discoveries and development of transitional reservoirs). Since 2017 the project has concentrated on complying with Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3352, which directs the USGS to update a series of assessments across the entire Alaska North Slope. This website illustrates the breadth and depth of recently completed and ongoing research.
The USGS in 2020 completed an assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in Alaska’s Central North Slope. Estimated means of 3.6 billion barrels of oil and 8.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (associated and non-associated) in conventional accumulations in Mississippian through Paleogene strata of State and Native lands and State waters. This assessment does not include discoveries made by industry between 2013 and 2017. Below is a list of other USGS assessments in Alaska:
- NEW - Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in the Central North Slope of Alaska (2020)
- Assessment of undiscovered gas hydrate resources in the North Slope of Alaska (2018)
- Susitna Basin, Southern Alaska (2018)
- National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) (2017)
- Upper Cook Inlet Basin (2015)
- Alaska North Slope Assessment (2012)
- National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (now superseded) (2010)
- Gas Hydrates (2008)
- Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal (2008)
- Central North Slope (2005)
- Coalbed Methane of Northern Alaska (2006)
- Yukon Flats (2003)
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - ANWR-1002 Area (1998)
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
Can the oil and gas that the USGS assesses be produced today?
USGS oil and gas assessments are for technically recoverable resources, meaning they can be produced using today’s technology and standard industry practices. However, our assessments do not look at what infrastructure would be required to produce these resources, nor does it look at whether it would be profitable to produce them. In addition, USGS assessments are for undiscovered resources, which...
Does an assessment of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska mean there should or should not be oil and gas production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The USGS is an unbiased, non-regulatory science agency, and therefore we do not advocate for or against oil and gas development in any location. The USGS role is to provide scientifically robust, publicly available estimates of potential resources so decision-makers have the best possible information to manage the Nation’s resources. Learn more: About USGS USGS Energy Assessments Alaska Petroleum...
How do the USGS and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) divide up which areas to be assessed for Oil and Gas Resources?
The USGS is responsible for oil and gas assessments onshore and in state waters (up to 3 miles offshore), while the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) assesses energy resources in the Federal offshore waters and the outer continental shelf. Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments
What is the difference between the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) is a roughly 23.4 million acre area of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It lies in northwest Alaska and borders both the Chukchi Sea to the west and the Beaufort Sea to the north. The NPR-A was originally established in 1923 as a petroleum reserve for the U.S. Navy, then transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1976. The...