The U.S. Geological Survey has re-evaluated the quantities of undiscovered petroleum that might exist beneath the coastal plain (1002 area) of the ANWR. This effort is intended to provide an updated. scientifically based perspective of petroleum potential at a time when federal, state, and private sector decision makers are weighing policy alternatives regarding ANWR management

In the 10 years since the previous USGS assessment, jointly conducted with the Bureau of Land Management, many changes have occurred in northern Alaska relative to oil and gas. These include the 1995 National Assessment of Oil and Gas Resources which indicated a significant change in the quantities of petroleum believed to exist in northern Alaska. including the ANWR, but not specifically assessing the 1002 area; a growing body of published geologic studies; about 20 exploratory wells located within 25 miles of the 1002 area that have resulted in four oil and gas discoveries; excess capacity in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline; infrastructure expansion eastward from Prudhoe Bay to within 25 miles of the ANWR; and dramatic reductions in both cost and environmental disturbance related to oil development and production.

With a team of specialists covering a wide range of disciplines, our re-evaluation consisted of new field work, seismic reprocessing, gravity, magnetic, fluid-flow, and structural modeling, and analysis of sequence stratigraphy, hydrous pyrolysis, and hydrocarbon mass-balance. The assessment is based upon deposit simulation modeling in geologic plays. We report estimates of in-place, technically recoverable, and economically recoverable resources. Results with supporting data are planned for publication as CD-ROM and hard-copy summary of digital publications.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90937©1998 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah