Alaska
National Wildlife Reverve
HOW MUCH OIL & GAS IS IN ANWR'S COASTAL PLAIN?
High potential. The high potential for significant discoveries of oil and gas in ANWR has
long been recognized. Early explorers of the region at the turn of the century, found oil
seeps and oil-stained sands. However, since ANWR was established in 1960, exploration in
the region has been restricted to surface geological investigations, aeromagnetic surveys,
and two winter seismic surveys (in 1983-84 and 1984-85). No exploratory drilling has been
accomplished in the area except for one well commenced in the winter of 1984-85 on
Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation lands southeast of
Kaktovik on the Coastal Plain.
Location to big finds. Although little oil and gas exploration has taken place in ANWR,
the Coastal Plain is believed to have economically recoverable oil resources. The Coastal
Plain lies between two known major discovery areas. About 65 miles to the west of the
Coastal Plain, the Prudhoe Bay, Lisburne, Endicott, Milne Point, and Kuparuk oil fields
are currently in production. Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil a day are produced
from these fields, representing 25% of our domestic production. To the east of the Coastal
Plain, major discoveries have been made in Canada, near the Mackenzie River Delta and in
the Beaufort Sea.
U.S. Geological Survey - 1980. In 1980, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the Coastal
Plain could contain up to 17 billion barrels of oil and 34 trillion cubic feet of natural
gas.
U.S. Department of Interior - 1987. After several years of surface geological
investigations, aeromagnetic surveys, and two winter seismic surveys (in 1983-84 and
1984-85), the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), in its April, 1987 report on the oil and
gas potential of the Coastal Plain, estimated that there are billions of barrels of oil to
be discovered in the area. DOI estimates that "in-place resources" range from
4.8 billion to 29.4 billion barrels of oil. Recoverable oil estimates ranges from 600
million barrels at the low end to 9.2 billion barrels at the high end. They also reported
identifying 26 separate oil and gas prospects in the Coastal Plain that could each contain
"super giant" fields (500 million barrels or more).
U.S. Geological Survey - 1998. The most recent petroleum assessment prepared by the USGS
in 1998 (OFR 98-34), increased the estimate for technically recoverable mean crude oil
resources. (See Oil in the ANWR? It's Time to Find Out!)
Only drilling will tell. The geologic indicators are very favorable for the presence of
significant oil and gas resources in ANWR, but the limited data means that there is a high
level of uncertainty about how much oil and gas may be present. Consequently, current
estimates represent the best scientific guesses. However, most geologists agree that the
potential is on the order of billions of barrels of recoverable oil and trillions of cubic
feet of recoverable gas and that these resources may rival or exceed the initial reserves
at Prudhoe Bay. The validity of these estimates can be proved only by drilling exploratory
wells. Authorization for exploration must be given by Congress and the President.
In 1996 the North Slope oil fields produced about 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, or
approximately 25 percent of the U.S. domestic production. However, Prudhoe Bay, which
accounts for over half of North Slope production, began its decline in 1988, and no new
fields have yet been discovered with the potential to compensate for that decline.
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT IN ANWR
1. Only 8% of ANWR Would Be Considered for Exploration Only the 1.5 million acre or 8% on
the northern coast of ANWR is being considered for development. The remaining 17.5 million
acres or 92% of ANWR will remain permanently closed to any kind of development. If oil is
discovered, less than 2000 acres of the over 1.5 million acres of the Coastal Plain would
be affected. Thatıs less than half of one percent of ANWR that would be affected by
production activity.
2. Revenues to the State and Federal Treasury Federal revenues would be enhanced by
billions of dollars from bonus bids, lease rentals, royalties and taxes. Estimates on
bonus bids for ANWR by the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Interior
for the first 5 years after Congressional approval are 4.2 billion dollars.
3. Jobs To Be Created Between 250,000 and 735,000 ANWR jobs are estimated to be created by
development of the Coastal Plain.
4. Economic Impact Between 1977 and 2004, North Slope oil field development and production
activity contributed over $50 billion to the nations economy, directly impacting each
state in the union.
5. America's Best Chance for a Major Discovery The Coastal Plain of ANWR is America's best
possibility for the discovery of another giant "Prudhoe Bay-sized" oil and gas
discovery in North America. U.S. Department of Interior estimates range from 9 to 16
billion barrels of recoverable oil.
6. North Slope Production in Decline The North Slope oil fields currently provide the U.S.
with nearly 16% of it's domestic production and since 1988 this production has been on the
decline. Peak production was reached in 1980 of two million barrels a day, but has been
declining to a current level of 943,000 barrels a day.
7. Imported Oil Too Costly In 2004 the US imported an average of 58% of its oil and during
certain months up to 64%. That equates to over $150 billion in oil imports and over $170
billion including refined petroleum products. Thatıs $19.9 million dollars an hour!
Including defence costs the number would be nearly a trillion dollars.
8. No Negative Impact on Animals Oil and gas development and wildlife are successfully
coexisting in Alaska 's arctic. For example, the Central Arctic Caribou Herd (CACH) which
migrates through Prudhoe Bay has grown from 3000 animals to its current level of 32,000
animals. The arctic oil fields have very healthy brown bear, fox and bird populations
equal to their surrounding areas.
9. Arctic Technology Advanced technology has greatly reduced the 'footprint" of
arctic oil development. If Prudhoe Bay were built today, the footprint would be 1,526
acres, 64% smaller.
10. Alaskans Support More than 75% of Alaskans favor exploration and production in ANWR.
The Inupiat Eskimos who live in and near ANWR support onshore oil development on the
Coastal Plain.
The 19 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) lies in the northeast corner of
Alaska. The entire refuge lies north of the Arctic Circle and 1,300 miles south of the
North Pole.
The Coastal Plain area, comprising 1.5 million acres on the northern edge of ANWR, is
bordered on the north by the Beaufort Sea, on the east by the U.S. Canadian border, and on
the west by the Canning River. The Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation and Arctic Slope Regional
Corporation (both Alaska Native corporations) own 94,000 acres in the Coastal Plain
surrounding the village of Kaktovik.
At its widest points, the Coastal Plain is about 100 miles across and about 30 miles deep
and covers an area slightly larger than the state of Delaware. Along the coastal area, the
plain is an almost featureless expanse, barren and dotted with thousands of unconnected
small ponds; the area to the south becomes gently rolling, treeless hills which merge into
foothills and then into the northern edges of the Brooks Range.
There is a Native population of about 220 residents at Kaktovik, a village on Native owned
lands at Barter Island, adjacent to the Coastal Plain and within the boundaries of ANWR.
If ANWR was a state, it would be larger than 10 other states
ANWR Refuge Facts - "Since North Slope oil resources represent a quarter of
U.S. oil reserves, the need to access them has accelerated development of environmentally
responsible, cost-effective practices and technologies. If Prudhoe Bay were developed with
today's technology, its footprint would be 64 percent smaller: the drilling impact area
would be 74 percent smaller, roads would cover 58 percent less surface area and oil and
gas separating facilities would take 50 percent less space."
(Source: Environmental Benefits of Advanced Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
Technology, Department of Energy 1999)
Thanks to: http://www.anwr.org |
