Location, Vegetation and Climate:
Occupies 8 million km2
in N.Canada, Alaska and Siberia.
Continuous vegetation in Boreal Forest (southern) to discontinuous (northern). Low
biodiversity and NPP.
Average monthly temps sub 0 prevent evapotranspiration (ground permanently frozen and
underlain with permafrost). Winter temps below -40 degrees.
Oil and Gas industry:
Extracted from Prudhoe Bay- high global energy prices and US government’s policy to
reduce dependence on oil imports lead to massive fixed investment.
¼ USA’s domestic oil production in 1990, but now just 6% (high costs).
Flow has slowed to 1/3; heating of thick oil (including in porous rocks)
4000 wells, 1000miles2
Individuals in USA use 3 gallons per day; currently burning more than 3 barrels oil for each
barrel discovered.
Industry Impacts:
Despite Alaska’s increasing temperature, methane (33x more effective at trapping
atmospheric heat than CO2) isn’t being released from soils at unusual rates. NASA feedback
research. Doesn’t preclude accelerated future change.
Management:
Infrastructure constructed on insulated ice and gravel pads.
Building and pipelines elevated to allow cold air circulation
Drilling laterally beyond drilling platform to lower number of sites required.
Computers detect oil-bearing geological structures, fewer exploration wells necessary.
Refrigerated supports used on Trans-Alaska pipeline.
Alpine – productive field designed to reduce environmental impact by well clustering (10x
smaller footprint than Prudhoe).
Threat to ANWR:
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Alaska = 15% US oil production, drilling in ANWR ongoing debate since 1997
One test well the only to have been drilled (undisclosed findings)
Government estimates less oil stored than US annual consumption