Alaska Files ANWR Exploration Plan

Under the plan, 3D seismic data would be gathered in Area 1002 to evaluate the area's oil and gas resource potential. Seismic activity would be funded through a combination of government and industry funds. Parnell had said he would request a minimum of $50 million from the state legislature, $50 million from the federal government and $50 million from the oil and gas industry. 

Officials said the plan to gather 3D seismic would allow the state and the federal government a greater understanding of ANWR's resource potential without significantly impacting the environment. Seismic data would be gathered during Alaska's winter season from mid-December to May over a three-year period. Special tracked vehicles would be used to travel across the frozen tundra to gather data.

Some vehicles would lay receiver nodes and cables on the ground, and other vehicles would provide vibration sources. Each section of coastal plains in Section 1002 would be assigned its own 3D acquisition timeline, based on geology and existing infrastructure.

Currently, the only data available for the1002 Area was acquired through 2-D seismic activity shot in the mid-1980s. The 3D seismic technology available know would allow for more precise imaging of subsurface geology to be taken and is needed to better understand ANWR's oil and gas resources.

"The key question for DOI is, why wouldn't you want to know?" said Sullivan. "The feds owe it to Alaska to have scientific-based information on which to make public land decisions. The current plan completely eliminates an oil and gas alternative. If the federal government won't act, then we will."

The most recent hydrocarbon assessment of the 1002 area, adjacent state lands and Alaska native in-holdings – published by the U.S. Geological Survey in1998 – estimates mean resources of 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. Most of these resources are thought to exist on federal lands within the 1002 Area, which were assessed at 7.7 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil.

The oil and gas resources "locked up" in ANWR for decades not only are essential to Alaska for economic growth and job opportunities, but to economic growth for the United States and U.S. energy security, said Parnell.