www.AlaskaAlliance.com 2024 Meet Alaska Conference & Trade Show 19 The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska was created in 1923 because of the region’s oil and gas potential. So why did it take so long to find the first commercial oil deposits? It wasn’t for lack of trying. The U.S. Navy and then the U.S. Geological Survey, in a program managed by Husky Oil, drilled extensively in the reserve, but failed to find a commercial deposit. Then industry had its turn when the federal government began leasing lands for exploration to private companies. The failures continued. ARCO drilled an expensive dry hole southwest of Barrow (now Utqiagvik). BP took its turn in the north-central part of the reserve and built what was then the longest ice road on the slope. Another dry hole. Total, a French company, made an effort. Another expensive failure, after which Total left Alaska. NPR-A had developed a reputation as a graveyard for exploration. But just as with Pikka, the ultimate success of ConocoPhillips and its previous partner, Anadarko Petroleum, was a result of a steady, patient program over several years in the northeastern part of the NPR-A to explore lands just west of the Alpine field on state lands, which the same companies had developed. It took a series of modest discoveries to develop the first successful production. These were gradual steps taken west from Alpine. First there was CD5, then GMT-1 and GMT-2, Each was supported by extension of infrastructure. Now there is Willow, a larger discovery further west. Each step, patiently taken, had built on earlier success. — Tim Bradner LOOKING BACK: NPR-A was ‘graveyard’ for numerous early explorers
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