National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska

Narwhal Exploration seeks state approval to drill up to three wells in West Harrison Bay

Narwhal Exploration wants to drill up to three oil wells from ice pads in Harrison Bay this winter, a year later than first planned. Comments are due Oct. 30.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Interior lets BLM skip environmental assessments for qualifying NPR-A winter exploration

Starting Friday, qualifying winter oil exploration in the petroleum reserve can skip a separate environmental assessment, barring extraordinary circumstances.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

North Slope oil throughput back above 500,000 barrels a day, former commissioner says

North Slope oil is back above 500,000 barrels a day, at least on some days. Oil-tax defenders credit the 2013 tax law and expect a fight in Juneau.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: North Slope oil is running below the state's forecast so far, and the price is running above it

Written comments on Willow drilling and injection rules are due Tuesday unless a Nov. 4 hearing is held

BLM wants to approve some NPR-A oil sites in 60 days by doing the big review once, up front. Here's what that means, and where Nuiqsut and others stand.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago4 min readFrom Sep 21

Three virtual hearings this week will take comments on BLM's Arctic fast-track

Three virtual hearings begin Tuesday on a 60-day Arctic permitting rule that BLM says could roughly double development.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Sep 8

ConocoPhillips' Disclosed Alaska Royalties Fell 58% in Two Years

ConocoPhillips paid $37.97 million in royalties on its federal Alaska leases last year, down 58 percent from 2023, partly on lower oil prices.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

BLM Rule Would Cut NPR-A Pad Approvals to 60 Days, Limit Hunting

The BLM's own analysis found a proposed drilling rule would significantly restrict subsistence hunting for three North Slope villages. Hearings begin Monday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min readFrom Sep 8

Follows: BLM rule would let NPR-A operators waive subsistence conditions without public notice

A federal rule would let NPR-A drilling spread pad by pad, skipping environmental study

A federal rule would let oil drilling spread across NPR-A pad by pad — each new site fast-tracking the next and skipping the environmental study now required.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read

BLM rule would let NPR-A operators waive subsistence conditions without public notice

A new BLM rule lets oil and gas operators in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve waive mitigation conditions, including four protections for subsistence hunting, without public notice.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read

ConocoPhillips drilled in the NPR-A this winter and has not said what it found

ConocoPhillips drilled multiple wells in the NPR-A this winter and added $104 million to costs it has not resolved. It has not said what it found.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readFrom Aug 31

A proposed rule would cut years of NPR-A oil review down to 60 days

Building an oil site in the NPR-A takes years of review. A proposed rule makes it 60 days for anything within 25 miles of existing infrastructure.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago4 min read

Heat advisory warns of 80 degrees near Umiat Sunday afternoon

National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the area near Umiat forecasting 80 degrees Sunday afternoon, though no North Slope villages fall within the warning zone.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read

A federal royalty-rule change could shortchange the states and tribes it's owed to

A federal plan to simplify mineral royalties could shortchange states, tribes, and Native owners, as an audit finds the agency isn't collecting what it's owed.

by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read

Federal appeals court clears Alaska to release NPR-A drilling data

A federal appeals court ruled Alaska can release ConocoPhillips exploration well data from the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska after the state's confidentiality period expires, rejecting the company's claim that federal law blocked disclosure.

by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read

Trump order on off-road vehicle rules could reshape Alaska federal-land access fights

Trump rescinded executive orders requiring federal agencies to minimize off-road vehicle damage to wildlife and soils, potentially reshaping access rules on Alaska's 60 percent federally owned lands.

by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read

Aspect Holdings addresses $100B Alaska projection, contested Teshekpuk lease

Aspect Holdings won eight Alaska lease blocks projecting $100 billion in state revenue. • One contested block near Teshekpuk Lake faces a lawsuit from a Native organization. • Seven uncontested blocks expected to be finalized soon. • Company estimates 20 billion barrels of recoverable oil remain on North Slope.

by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read

Begich cites $163M Alaska oil lease sale as proof federal certainty drives investment

Rep. Nick Begich cited a record $163 million Alaska oil lease sale as evidence that federal policy certainty drives energy investment, and called for faster permitting to unlock Alaska's oil, gas, and geothermal resources for national security.

by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read