The Arctic Energy Office
Alaska Energy Resources
AEO’s R&D efforts are designed to help overcome the many technological and economic challenges encountered in efforts to tap Alaska’s vast fossil energy resources while operating safely amid the State’s unique geographic, climatic, environmental, and cultural elements. AEO North Slope environmental initiatives focus on ensuring that oil and natural gas operators continue to minimize environmental impacts.
Alaska’s oil potential is massive. The North Slope alone is estimated to have a total oil-in-place resource—including undiscovered, technically recoverable oil—of 100 billion barrels.
The same holds true for Alaska’s natural gas potential. Over 200 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas is estimated to be technically recoverable in the State, including undiscovered resources. The North Slope accounts for about 163 Tcf of that total. That doesn’t include the hundreds of Tcf estimated for the natural gas held within the slope’s methane hydrate resource.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that Alaska’s undiscovered coal resources could total as much as 5 trillion metric tons, 70 percent of which lies on the North Slope.
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