Alliance Link Magazine Fall 2025

The Alliance’s very own quarterly publication with news about Alaska’s natural resources, projects, politics, industry updates, and association information. Please contact us if you are interested in joining our mailing list for a physical copy.

FAIRBANKS LEADING THE PATH FORWARD

Alaska Oil & Gas Historical Society Honors 50th Anniversary of the Yukon River Bridge Completion

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: n Golden Heart City’s Economy Strong n Doyon, Hilcorp Team Up in New Quest n Multiple Projects Gain New Momentum

THE LINK: The official magazine of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance

BOBCAT

. COM

DEDICATED. RELIABLE. BUILT TO SERVE.

A LEGACY OF INNOVATION AND SERVICE

INTRODUCING BOBCAT PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSORS Generations have come to rely on the 100 years of manufacturing expertise that Doosan Portable Power® brought to the air compressor market. Now, as part of the Bobcat brand, the legacy continues. With the new Bobcat® air compressor lineup – available at our dealership – you can expect industry-leading performance and nothing less.

ANCHRAE ,

JUNEAU ,

(

)

(

)

907

563

3822

907

802

4242

TOTEMARITIME.COM Northbound: 253.449.2112 Southbound: 907.276.5868

Mike Mille r

Roe

o ss o w

In the world. The best construction equipment technology. In Alaska. The best sales and products support lineup. In your corner. The winning Team.

FAIRBANKS ,

KETCHIKAN ,

Ancho

age ,

Ancho r

age ,

( 907

)

- 8808

( 907

)

- 2228

247

od u c t

u o

Sale

Ren t al /

Sale s

cmiak

com

www.

Focus on health, family, faith to leave a lasting impact Message From Jeff Baker, Board of Directors President

A lliance Members and Friends: People reading this in- tro are likely leaders in the business community with many demands on their time and stress in their lives. I want to share the values the chair- man of the company I work for em- phasizes to our employees. It’s not about working hard, how much money the company makes or your next promotion. It’s about Health, Family and Faith, or HFF as he likes to say. The basic premise is a remind-

As we gear up for a busy fall sea- son, keep in mind the things that are truly important in our lives. Right around the corner on Oct. 23 is our annual meeting and we’re ex- pecting a packed house. Board election results will be an- nounced at the meeting so be sure to get your table booked. Skeet Black, the incoming Board President, will be taking the helm of the Alliance at this meeting. I couldn’t be more delighted to hand the reins over to Skeet. He’s been very active and a strong influ -

Alaska’s Oil and Gas Consultants

er to our employees to treat others as you would like to be treated and to not forget the impor- tance of focusing on one’s health, family and personal faith that help us to be empathetic and selfless to each other. Health: Taking care of your physical and men- tal health and well-being is essential to ensuring that you show up every day energized, focused and ready to make a difference in your job, to your family and in your community. Family: Focus on the individuals in your life who form your support system. By nurturing relationships, you can build a strong network and maintain healthy bonds that will benefit you and provide fulfillment throughout your career and life. Faith: No matter your personal beliefs (whether spiritual, philosophical, secular or otherwise), we all have core values and philosophies that drive us and provide a sense of purpose to help navi- gate challenges and stay grounded.

ence for the Board. He’s thoughtful and meticu- lous in his decision-making but always open to hearing others’ views. Please welcome and congratulate Skeet the next time you see him. The future for natural resource development in Alaska is looking strong. Of real importance is finding and producing the up-and-coming leaders for this industry. Velocity AK, which the Alliance helped create, is an organization to equip the next generations of Alaskans for the respon- sible development of Alaska’s resources. You can find a link to their website on the Alliance home page. Encourage your younger staff to participate in the multitude of events Velocity hosts each year. It has been an honor and privilege to lead the Alliance for this past year. I’m proud of what the Alliance has and will accomplish to promote re- sponsible resource development in Alaska.

Geoscience Engineering Operations Project Management

3601 C Street, Suite 1424 Anchorage, Alaska 99503

Respectfully, Jeff

www.petroak.com info@petroak.com

907.272.1232

THE LINK: FALL 2025

Page 12 Doyon, Hilcorp take new look at Interior Doyon, Ltd. and Hilcorp Energy are taking a fresh look at unexplored sedimentary basins in Interior Alaska, hoping to find oil and gas deposits. Page 22 Celebrating iconic Yukon River Bridge Please join the Alaska Oil & Gas Historical Society for a special Community Celebration honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Yukon River Bridge completion. Page 30 Donlin Gold project gaining momentum The big Donlin Gold project has fresh momentum with its new ownership structure and new management in place, looking to the future of what could be a transcendent Alaska project. Page 32 Interior economy on upward trend North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins says the Fairbanks economy continues to remain strong due in large part to Alaska’s support industries as well as the vital impacts from the military and tourism. FEATURES

ON THE COVER Fairbanks and the Interior as a whole continue to play a significant role in multiple industrial sectors vital to the future of Alaska. From oil and gas and mining to tourism and the military, the future remains bright for multiple support industries.

ON THIS PAGE Tourism is one of Fairbanks’ core industries with thousands of people visiting the Interior during the summer. But winter is gaining in popularity, too, with the chance for aurora viewing and cold- weather recreation. See more on Page 34.

Photos Courtesy Explore Fairbanks

The Link is published in partnership with the Alaska Support Industry Alliance by Fireweed Strategies LLC, 4849 Potter Crest Circle, Anchorage, AK 99516. We actively seek contributions from Alliance members and the oil and gas and mining industry. For advertising information and story inquiries, email Lee.Leschper@FireweedStrategies.com. Our magazine is mailed at no charge throughout Alaska to those interested in resource development and a healthy Alaska economy. To subscribe, email Admin@FireweedStrategies.com. Publisher: Lee Leschper | Editor: Tim Bradner | Production, Design: Will Leschper Contributing Photographer: Judy Patrick

ANCHORAGE (907) 279-2415

FAIRBANKS (907) 452-3458

BIGRAYS.COM

www.AKRDC.org

THE LINK: FALL 2025

We’ve come a long way ... all thanks to your efforts Message From CEO Rebecca Logan

A lliance Members and Friends: Welcome Fall! Though I dread the end of sum- mer each year, I am always ex- cited to begin our fall activities, knowing that I have the oppor- tunity to see all of you! It’s hard to believe that this is our 14th annual Fairbanks Industry Update Forum. We’ve held the forum every year since 2011, with the exception of 2020 (COVID) and it has certainly be- come one of our best events. Look how far we’ve come — and how much has changed — since that first event: 2011 Agenda n Flint Hills/GVEA-LNG Trucking Partners – Mike Brose/ Brian Newton n Pebble Mine Update – Mike Heatwole n ConocoPhillips Update – Scott Jepsen n Governor Sean Parnell –

Hanneman

n ASAP & Industrial Megaprojects – Dave Haugen n Alyeska Pipeline Update - Greg Jones; and n Auto Museum Reception Who would have predicted that industry giants like Shell and BP would no longer be ac- tive in this state? Though projects, players and people have changed — the Alliance membership has stayed strong and steady. Thank you all for your commitment to the or- ganization, to the industry and to the state of Alaska. I hope you enjoy the day and leave feeling that you’ve learned something new and that the out- look for our industries is bright. Thank you for attending and for your support of the Alliance. You are appreciated!

Luncheon Keynote

n Update on Cook Inlet Activity – Senator Tom Wagoner n Shell Update – Brent Ross n BP Update – Claire Fitz- patrick n Tower Hill Mines – Livengood Gold Project – Karl

Respectfully, Rebecca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/alaskaalliance X (formerly Twitter): x.com/AKAlliance And if you’re not receiving our updates,

Connect with The Alliance We are working proactively to keep our members informed and connected via online platforms and events. Watch for our updates through email and social media. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/the-alliance-4939251b

email info@alaskaalliance.org. Stay up to date on our website at AlaskaAlliance.com.

THE LINK: FALL 2025

Thank you for your support!

T hank you to this year, including our inaugural Alaska Oil & Gas Historical Society golf tournament and Kenai golf tournament this summer. everyone who has joined us for events Your generous support helps further our vital mission! Watch for updates and more at www.alaskaalliance. com/annual-events The Alliance is composed of more than 500 members providing more than 35,000 Alaskan jobs related to the oil, gas and mining industries. Our mission is to lead and advocate for the responsible exploration, development, and production of Alaska’s oil, gas, energy, and mineral resources, ensuring durable benefits

for all Alaskans and fostering economic growth.

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

Doyon, Hilcorp take new look at Interior oil, gas

Doyon, Ltd. of Fairbanks and Hil- corp Energy are taking a fresh look at unexplored sedimentary basins in In- terior Alaska, hoping to find oil and gas deposits. Previous efforts have been unsuccessful but new geochem- istry data indicates the presence of oil and seismic surveys have identified possible reservoir traps. Hilcorp is working with Doyon Ltd., the Alaska Native regional corporation for northern Alaska, which owns land and mineral rights. Hilcorp is a major oil and gas producer in both the Cook Inlet and the North Slope. Alaska’s Division of Oil and Gas has issued a drilling permit to Hil- corp for its Canvasback 4A exploration well, which will be drilled about 10 miles west of the small village of Birch Creek, which is near the Yukon River. Doyon owns the subsurface miner- al while Tihteet’aii, the small Alaska Native village corporation for Birch Creek, owns the surface lands. The well will be drilled in summer with operations beginning this year, Hil- corp told the Division of Oil and Gas. A drill rig is being moved from Nikiski, on the Kenai Peninsula, to the Yukon River on the Dalton Highway. It will then be transported by barge east to the drill site near Birch Creek. Doyon has been interested in the oil and gas potential of the Yukon Flats for decades. The basin covers more than 11 million acres between the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline to the west and the Canadian border to the east. The Trans Alaska Pipeline Sys- tem (TAPS) transects the western part of the basin, providing a way to move any oil discovered to market. The area is also on the route of a proposed 800-mile natural gas pipeline

CONTINUED on PAGE 15

Photo Courtesy Doyon, Ltd.

THE LINK: FALL 2025

share 70% of revenue from natural re- sources including oil and gas with other Native regional and village corporations. This created a problem for Doyon in that it was a disincentive for the corporation to invest its own funds in exploring lands it owns, under ANCSA, because Doyon would receive only 30% of the revenue while providing 100% of the money. It was different in the state-owned lands in the Nenana Basin because Doyon had secured state oil and gas leases and would receive 100% of rev- enue less a one-eighth state royalty. The disincentive has prevented Doyon from making substantial investments of its own funds in the Yukon Flats, Doyon officials have noted in the past. The solution was to bring in a pri- vate partner, in this case Hilcorp, as the major investor and equity owner, with Doyon as the royalty owner.

the Nenana Basin west of Fairbanks, which has potential for gas that could be supplied to Fairbanks, the major community in the region. The Nenana Basin had been explored unsuccessfully years ago by ARCO Alaska, but Doyon did subsequent geologic studies and found that most of the basin, and the more prospective parts, were north of where ARCO had drilled. The area is on state-owned land. Doyon secured state leases and brought in industry partners to drill two tests, but the drilling was unsuccessful. The basin still has potential, Doyon believes, but the corporation has since turned its attention to Yukon Flats farther north where it is the resource owner. There are some differences between Doyon’s initiative in the Nenana and Yukon Flats basins, however. The Doy- on-owned lands in the Yukon Flats were acquired under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), under which regional corporation landowners

CONTINUED from PAGE 12

that could be built from the North Slope to southern Alaska. There has been sporadic interest from industry in the region. ExxonMo- bil did seismic surveys years ago but did not follow up with a drilling pro- gram. ARCO Alaska, now ConocoPhil- lips, drilled a test well in the Kandik Basin to the east near the Canada bor- der, but the well was unsuccessful. Geologists have considered the area more prone to natural gas than oil but a reassessment by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) pointed to oil potential as well. Based on that, Doyon, the land and resource owner, commissioned geochemical sampling programs which further indicated the presence of oil. This was followed by a seismic survey by Doyon which focused attention on the Birch Creek area. Doyon has previously explored it- self in another Interior Alaska basin,

— Tim Bradner

WORLDPAY IS HERE. AND ONLY AT NORTHRIM.

Photo Courtesy Doyon, Ltd.

Doyon Utilities, partner Corix keep lights, heat on for Interior military bases

Northrim and Worldpay have partnered to deliver top-tier, tailored merchant services, ensuring seamless, secure and efficient payment solutions for your business and your customers. + Credit and debit card acceptance — everywhere + Mobile payment acceptance — fast and reliable + Gift card program — drive more revenue + Advanced reporting tools — empower smarter decisions Call us today at (907) 261-6205 to see how our merchant services can unlock better business.

Fairbanks-based Doyon Utilities is keeping the lights and heat on, and the water flowing, at military installa - tions across Alaska. Doyon Utilities is a joint venture between Doyon, Ltd., the Interior’s Alaska Native Corporation, and Corix, a North American utility company. The company serves more than 55,000 soldiers, airmen, families and Department of Defense civilians at Fort Wainwright, Fort Greely and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. With a service area larger than the state of Delaware, Doyon Utilities (DU) is Alaska’s third-largest utility company

in terms of utility infrastructure. The utility privatization initiative grew out of the separate, earlier ini - tiative by the Department of Defense to privatize housing on military bases. Installation commanders felt it was more efficient to let private develop - ers build on-base housing to allow local commanders to focus on core missions. Also, capital investment for improvements could be done private - ly without having to go to Congress for appropriations. Congress provided statutory au- thority to the Department of Defense (DOD) in 1997 that allowed military

installations the ability to privatize their utility systems, with the goal of pro - viding safe, reliable and efficient utility services, and updating aging utility infrastructure. DU was awarded three 50-year utility privatization contracts for Fort Greely, JBER Richardson and Fort Wainwright, taking over owner- ship, operations and maintenance of the 12 utilities the contracts encom - pass – electrical distribution, water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, natural gas distribution and steam distribution.

CONTINUED on PAGE 16

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

CONTINUED from PAGE 14

pared to a typical municipal water distribution system, is that most of the water lines are located in a protected underground utilidor system rather than direct buried. Fort Wainwright’s wastewater is collected by a series of sewer mains that also run primarily through the utilidor system. Residual heat from the steam and condensate pipes provides freeze protection for the wastewater lines. While Doyon Utilities owns and operates the waste- water collection system, the waste - water is treated off the installation by Golden Heart Utilities. At Fort Greely, Doyon Utilities serves approximately 1,300 residents, mostly soldiers, families and federal workers. The company operates four utilities on Fort Greely. The company’s Fort Greely operations also support the Army’s Northern Warfare Training Center at Black Rapids, 35 miles south of the Army post. This is the nation’s state-of-the-art cold weather and mountain warfare training site. Fort Greely’s electrical distribution system includes overhead and under - ground distribution feeders and street lighting. At this installation, Electric power is normally purchased by the Army from Golden Valley Electrical Association (GVEA), the Interior’s electric cooperative which is inter- connected with both Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely. When GVEA is unable to provide power, or if the installation needs to disconnect from the local grid, DU can meet the installation’s energy demands with backup diesel generation. Similar to Fort Wainwright, heat to Fort Greely’s buildings is provided by steam boilers located in the CHPP and distributed through underground utilidors which also house the installa- tion’s water and sewer lines for freeze protection. Water is supplied by ground wells and is treated at a water treatment facility before distribution. Unlike Fort Wainwright and JBER, the Fort Greely operations team collects and treats wastewater on the installation using an Imhoff-style tank, lagoons and a chlorine disinfection system. At Joint Base Elmendorf-Rich - ardson in Anchorage, Doyon Utilities serves nearly 35,000 people including military personnel and retirees, feder - al employees and families. The com - pany operates four utilities on JBER

providing services primarily to the Fort Richardson side of the Joint Base. Electricity is supplied by Chugach Electric Association and the Doyon Utilities’ Landfill Gas Plant, Alaska’s only landfill gas-to-energy plant (LFG). Constructed in 2012, DU’s LFG power generation plant has provid- ed the installation with energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Situated on the installation adjacent to the Anchorage landfill, the LFG plant draws methane produced naturally by the waste deposited in the landfill. The plant uses the methane to fuel five 1.4-megawatt generators – a com - bined 7-megawatt of power that can meet nearly all of JBER-Richardson’s summer requirements and about 70% of the power requirements in winter. JBER’s drinking water is obtained from the Ship Creek Surface Water Reservoir and local groundwater wells on the installation. The water is treated at DU’s water treatment plant before it is distributed throughout the entire Joint Base. During 2024, Doyon Utilities produced more than 1 billion gallons of water, making it one of the largest water producers in the state. The existing water treatment plant was commissioned in 1957 and has received several upgrades during the past 65 years. Construction of a new water treatment plant was approved in 2023 and broke ground in June 2024. The new ultrafiltration water treatment plant, with a capacity of 7.5 million gallons per day, will span more than 10,000 square feet. Equipped with advanced treatment technolo - gies, this new plant will bring JBER greater resilience and water security. It is scheduled to commission in the fall. Doyon Utilities’ wastewater collec- tion utility collects JBER’s wastewater through direct-buried sewer lines and transfers it to the City of Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility for treatment. In its 17 years of operation, Doyon Utilities has delivered on the promise of utilities privatization with robust and resilient utilities across the three in- stallations it serves, and looks forward to the next 33 years serving Alaska’s soldiers, airmen and their families.

These contracts are the largest and most complex utility privatization ef - forts ever awarded by the Department of Defense. The three Army installations are critical to the nation’s defense in the Arctic, where geopolitical changes and interests are growing. The Army’s 11th Airborne Division (Arctic), based both at JBER and Fort Wainwright, is the Army’s only division in the Arctic while Fort Greely hosts the nation’s main ballistic missile interceptor installation. While utilities at Alaska’s U.S. Army installations are fully privatized, utili - ties at Alaska’s U.S. Air Force installa- tions are still operated by the govern- ment. These include Eielson Air Force Base east of Fairbanks, JBER-Elmen - dorf (the Air Force side of JBER and formerly Elmendorf Air Force Base) and Clear Space Force Station located southwest of Fairbanks. The Air Force is currently reviewing privatizing utili- ties in Alaska which potentially could create new opportunities for Doyon Utilities. At Fort Wainwright, Doyon Utilities serves nearly 16,000 residents, mostly soldiers, families and federal workers. The company operates four utilities on Fort Wainwright, including a coal-fired cogeneration plant. The Electrical Distribution System is far-reaching, servicing the main cantonment area and extending to re - mote ranges which include the Yukon Training Area and Donnelly Training Area near Delta Junction. Fort Wain- wright is heated by a 22-megawatt coal-fired centralized heat and power plant (CHPP) that generates steam and electricity to meet 100% of the heat and electricity demands of the installation. Its lifeblood is the network of steam and condensate lines dis - tributed throughout the post. Steam from the CHPP circulates to each building and residence, then returns to the plant in the form of condensate. Though most of the system was built in the early 1950s, several upgrades and additions have been made over the years. Fort Wainwright’s drinking water is supplied by an underground aquifer to a water treatment plant. A unique characteristic of the Fort Wainwright water distribution system, as com -

While utilities at Alaska’s U.S. Army installations are fully privatized, utilities at Alaska’s U.S. Air Force installations are still operated by the government. These include Eielson Air Force Base east of Fairbanks.

HVAC • PLUMBING & HEATING • CONTROLS • SERVICE & MAINTENANCE • CERTIFIED AIR BALANCING • UV LIGHTING ONE SOLUTION. ONE COMPANY.

WWW.SHEETMETALINC.COM WE’RE MORE THAN JUST ALASKA'S PREMIER METAL FABRICATION FACILITY

— Tim Bradner

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

AOGA Industry Awards Current Alliance members were among those honored by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA) with its 2025 AOGA Indus- try Awards at the association’s annual conference in late August. See more photos on Pages 20-21

Contractor of the Year — Denali Universal Services (ABOVE LEFT): The Contractor of the Year Award for Safety Perfor- mance recognizes an oil and gas support company that has demonstrated exemplary commitment to safety. For over 30 years, Denali Universal Services (DUS) has been a cornerstone contractor for ConocoPhillips Alaska, known for embedding a proactive and comprehensive safety culture throughout its operations. From achieving 20 years of inci- dent-free operations to receiving multiple ConocoPhillips safety honors, DUS consistently demonstrates safety leadership. The organization instills safety as a personal value across all levels, fostering lasting habits that extend beyond the work- place. This sustained commitment has positioned DUS as a model for what a safety-first culture can achieve across Alas - ka’s oil and gas industry. Project of the Year — Horizontal Directional Drilling under the Colville River by ConocoPhillips Alaska (BELOW LEFT): The Alaska Oil and Gas Project of the Year for Environmental Stewardship and Innovation Award honors an Alaska oil and gas industry project that demonstrates superior environmen - tal stewardship in its area of design, construction or operation and/or an innovative approach that sets a new standard for industry design, construction or operation in Alaska. ConocoPhillips Alaska’s use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to install dual pipelines under the Colville River during a single winter construction season sets a new precedent in sustainable engineering. Completed with zero reportable in- juries and no environmental impact to the river, this project highlights the integration of advanced technology, safety, and minimal ecological disturbance. Real-time water monitoring confirmed the protection of a vital subsistence resource for the community of Nuiqsut. The project sets a new benchmark for environmental accountability and is a testament to the potential for innovation, even in one of the world’s most challenging operating environments. Marilyn Crockett Lifetime Achievement Award — Mark Ireland, Santos (ABOVE CENTER): The Marilyn Crockett Life- time Achievement Award is named in honor of the former AOGA executive director who dedicated her 41-year career to, as she stated, “growing Alaska’s economy through a vibrant oil and gas sector in the state.” This award honors the dedication Marilyn displayed during her career: exceptional devotion of time, effort, thought, and action consistently shown in his/her work for the betterment of the oil and gas industry in Alaska. Mark Ireland’s 40-year career includes leadership in nearly every major oilfield west of the Kuparuk River and international technical leadership roles. A mentor, innovator, and respected voice in the industry, Ireland has been instrumental in shaping the future of Alaska’s oil sector, including the development of

the Pikka Unit. He will retire this November, leaving behind a legacy of technical excellence and quiet, principled leadership. Ireland’s work has not only advanced production in Alaska but has built a culture of mentorship and integrity that continues to influence young professionals across the industry. Rising Star Award — Sydney Long, ConocoPhillips Alaska: The Rising Star Award honors a young professional in the oil and gas industry under the age of 35 who has made an immedi- ate and definitive impact on the oil and gas industry in Alaska.

Sydney Long, a senior ana- lytics engineer, has swiftly advanced through key roles in engineering and analytics at ConocoPhillips Alaska. Her work includes contributing to the longest well in North America, the 35,526-foot Fiord West well in the Kuparuk reservoir, and developing industry-lead- ing technical guidance that has helped shape company practices. Long is recognized as a mentor within ConocoPhillips and actively works to share industry knowledge with professionals in every area of the company. In addition to her work on the clock,

Long shares her passion for Alaska’s energy future by volunteering for Alaska Resource Education, sparking student interest in careers across Alaska’s resource industries.

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

Help us celebrate a truly historic milestone!

P lease join the Alaska Oil & Gas Historical Society for a special Community Celebration honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Yukon River Bridge completion. The half-mile-long span is one of only four vehicle-carrying bridges across the Yukon River, the longest river in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. The bridge was constructed in 1974-75 as part of the construction of the Trans- Alaska Pipeline System and officially opened in October 1975. The bridge provides a river crossing for the pipeline and allows vehicle access to the Dalton Highway, the major supply line for the North Slope. The construction cost at the time was $30 million, according to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. The bridge was officially named E.L. Patton Yukon River Bridge by the Alaska Legislature in 1982, after E.L. Patton, the President of Alyeska during pipeline construction. A monument to Patton was later dedicated in October 1982. The bridge is 30 feet wide, with six spans, and was designed to withstand temperatures

FUELING PROSPERITY FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS

— JUNEAU, ALASKA — AVAILABLE STATEWIDE ✓ CONSTRUCTION ✓ EXPLORATION ✓ CONTRACT

Alaska Oil & Gas Historical Society Celebrates 50th Anniversary of First Pipe at Tonsina in New Exhibit

✓ SUPPORT ✓ CHARTER

The official magazine of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance INSIDE THIS ISSUE: n Bevy of Activity Continues on Slope n Pair of Facilities Set to Import LNG n Thank You to Our Meet Alaska Sponsors!

operations@coastalhelicopters.com 907-789-5600 www.coastalhelicopters.com

Every edition of The Link Magazine can be found online at www.AlaskaAlliance.com

up to 60-degrees below zero Fahrenheit, huge ice loads from the river, and truck loads hauling supplies to oil fields and the oil pipeline. During the past 30

years, the timber decking has been replaced several times — in 1981, 1992, 1999 and 2007, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation.

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

ConocoPhillips plans major NPR-A exploration Work planned Photo Courtesy ConocoPhillips Alaska ConocoPhillips continues to focus on expanding its Alaska footprint including work underway at its Willow project shown here.

PROUDLY PROVIDING ALASKA with underground, surface and helicopter supported core drilling for mineral exploration and geotechnical work.

legislation contained changes aimed at increasing oil development on Alaska’s North Slope. ConocoPhillips’ new drilling will be on leases currently held by the company and is a resumption of work ConocoPhillips had underway in the area until the pandemic paused ex- ploration activity in 2020.

pandemic. The four-well test drill- ing program is planned near where the company is developing its new $7.5 billion Willow oil project in the NPR-A. Willow is expected to begin production in 2029. The new exploration was an- nounced just days after Congress approved President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill, which has been signed by the President. The

during pandemic to get underway ConocoPhillips is resuming ex- ploration in the National Petro- leum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) after a shutdown caused by the COVID-19

800-322-3201 • office@ruendrilling.com ruendrilling.com

CONTINUED on PAGE 26

THE LINK: FALL 2025

Willow, however, will be able to sup- port development of smaller discov- eries made nearby, much like Alpine has supported production from the CD-5, GMT-1 and GMT-2 deposits, which are in the NPR-A.

ed produced fluids being shipped for processing to the Alpine processing facilities. The larger Willow discovery, now under construction, is too far to be served by Alpine’s processing plants, however, and will have its own stand- alone infrastructure, including an oil processing plant. The new facilities at

place during the upcoming 2025-26 winter drilling season, the company announced in its statement. “We have invested billions of dol- lars to purchase leases in the NPR-A, conduct exploration activities and re- sponsibly develop our leases subject to some of the most stringent envi- ronmental protections in the world,” according to ConocoPhillips officials. “Responsible oil development in the NPR-A supports our nation’s ener- gy security, well-paying union jobs and economic benefits to local Alaska Native communities and the state of Alaska. The NPR-A is a petroleum re- serve that was set aside by Congress for oil development.” The NPR-A is a large 23-mil- lion-acre federal land reserve on the western North Slope created in 1923 by President Warren Harding for pos- sible oil reserves for the U.S. Navy. It was designated as Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 and was managed by the Navy until Congress transferred it to the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1976 and renamed it as the Nation- al Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The Navy conducted explora- tion across much of the reserve af- ter World War II. A small oil field was discovered at Umiat, at the far south- east border of the reserve with state lands, as well as a gas deposit at Bar- row, now renamed Utqiaġvik. Umiat’s oil resource was explored in the 1950s and again by private companies in the 1980s but no commercial production was established. However, the gas resource at Utqiaġvik was developed and now supplies energy to the local Inupiat community as well as a nearby mil- itary installation. Despite extensive drilling by the federal government and later by pri- vate companies, no significant dis - coveries were made in the NPR-A un- til recent years when ConocoPhillips began drilling in the northwest part of the reserve, west of state lands where there is production. ConocoPhillips discovered and has developed three medium-sized de- posits, CD-5, GMT-1 and GMT-2, all now producing with infrastructure built from the company’s nearby Al- pine Field on state lands. This includ-

— Tim Bradner

Providing Alaska with experienced professionals and specialized equipment to handle all your environmental solutions needs. · Industrial Tank Cleaning · Waste Treatment, Recycling, and Disposal · Confined Space Entry and Cleaning · Decontamination · Hydro Excavation Services, Liquid Vacuum Truck Services · Transportation, Frac Tanks, Waste Containers · Settling Pond, Oil Water Separator and Sump Cleaning

Photo Courtesy ConocoPhillips Alaska

ConocoPhillips has multiple operating projects in Alaska including its GMT-1 (above) and GMT-2 projects.

were suspended because of the global pandemic. Willow West is described by sources as a likely “satellite” to Willow, meaning a nearby deposit that is close enough to be developed with an extension of Willow’s infra- structure. While the new drilling is only in- directly linked to Trump’s new law, which deals mainly with new leasing, the legislation is helpful in revoking restrictive land management regula- tions imposed in the NPR-A in 2023 by former President Joe Biden. In a statement, ConocoPhillips said it has submitted a permit application

to the U.S. Bureau of Land Manage- ment (BLM) for a seismic program in a large area south of the company’s leases in the Greater Mooses Tooth Unit, where the company is currently producing from its GMT-1 and GMT- 2 projects, and the Bear Tooth units where Willow is located. The seismic survey would update data from a geophysical program done in the 1980s. The company said its four-well exploration program in- cludes one well in the Greater Moos- es Tooth Unit, one well in the Bear Tooth Unit and two additional wells to the west. The activity would take

CONTINUED from PAGE 24

The company has not released in- formation on specific drilling targets but industry sources familiar with the NPR-A believe the testing will include tests near two previous Con- ocoPhillips discoveries in the area dubbed “Willow West,” a prospect a few miles west of the current Willow project, and “Harpoon,” a potential larger discovery to the southwest. Harpoon No. 2 was drilled to 5,611 feet in 2020 and encountered hydro- carbons, ConocoPhillips announced, but two delineation wells planned

www.republicservices.com/ES | 833.246.3367 Emergency Response: 800.899.4672

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

North Slope oil output buoyed by new projects

hoe Bay field and adjacent to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. Pantheon completed its new Dub- he-1 well in late July to test an earlier discovery. The well was drilled to a 8,699-foot vertical depth and com- pleted in mid-August. It confirmed a 565-foot-thick column of oil that was 26% larger than the company’s estimate at the start of the well. Denver-based Armstrong Oil and Gas is meanwhile expected to con- tinue testing on an oil discovery made last winter east of Prudhoe Bay. Armstrong’s find, made with Apache Corporation, its partner, is near the existing Badami pipeline built east from Prudhoe Bay to the small Badami oil field and larger Point Thomson gas and condensate field, which are producing. Alaska North Slope production increased in August over July with the completion of summer facili- ty maintenance. One field, Alpine, was still down for 10 days in August, however, as ConocoPhillips, its own- er and operator, continued planned facility work. Overall, North Slope production averaged 417,180 barrels per day in August, up from 387,531 bar- rels per day on average in July due to the facility maintenance down- time. Production is still below the typical North Slope average of about 480,000 barrels per day. Summer is usually a low-produc- tion cycle on the North Slope. Fields produce more during cold winter months because production plants operate more efficiently than during warmer summer months. Output was up at two of the major producing fields on the North Slope

but were down in two, the Alpine and Kuparuk River fields. The Prudhoe Bay field, largest on the slope, averaged 265,741 barrels per day in August, up from an av- erage of 212,596 barrels per day in July. Prudhoe is operated by Hilcorp Energy, which also owns about one- third of the field with partners Con - ocoPhillips and ExxonMobil. The Kuparuk River field, sec - ond-largest on the Slope, was down slightly in August, averaging 110,347 barrels per day compared with 166,394 barrels per day in July. Con- ocoPhillips is the owner and opera- tor at Kuparuk, which is just west of the Prudhoe Bay field. At Alpine, the farthest west pro- ducing field on the Slope, average production dipped to 23,448 barrels per day in August compared with a 42,896 barrels per day average in July due to the several days of pro- duction facilities being offline during the month. Daily production rates returned to normal later in August. Cono- coPhillips is the owner and opera- tor at the Alpine Field. Facilities in the field, which is on State of Alaska lands, also processes raw crude oil from two producing pads, GMT-1 and GMT-2, that are in the federal National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) several miles west of Alpine as well as small “satellite” accumu- lations south of the field. However, ConocoPhillips’ new Willow field, which is further west and larger, will have its own plant on site to process oil and gas pro- duced fluids.

Production stays stable amid slight historical decline Production from the older “leg- acy” fields of the North Slope is generally stable but also gradual- ly declining as their reservoirs age. However, two new fields now in construction — ConocoPhillips’ Wil- low and Pikka, with Santos Ltd. and partner Repsol – will make substan- tial new contributions of oil when they are completed. Pikka will be completed in early 2026 ahead of its original schedule of mid-year. The field is expected to produce 80,000 barrels per day in its first phase of development. When phase one production begins, Santos will move into its phase two devel- opment, which would add more pro- duction. Modules for Pikka were delivered this summer by barge from Canada, while a seawater treatment plant is being transported from Indonesia, where it was built. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips says it is on schedule to begin production at Willow in 2029, with production estimated at 180,000 barrels per day. The company is now completing Willow’s operators’ center and has a large construction camp in place to support year-round work to com- plete the field. New projects on the slope may bring even more production. One is in the central North Slope where U.K.-based Pantheon Resources is evaluating a find south of the Prud -

BUILDING ALASKA ONE OUNCE AT A TIME CONAM’s track record of successful projects has proven that resource development can be done responsibly while protecting Alaska’s fragile environment. Our firm understanding of Alaska’s unique challenges and commitment to HSSE and planning have translated into

satisfied mining clients across the state. We get dirty so you get the pay dirt.

— Tim Bradner

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

Donlin Gold project adds fresh new momentum

Lindskoog leads Donlin Gold external affairs

Donlin Gold LLC has hired Wendy Lindskoog as external affairs manag - er to support its long-term development goals and strengthen stakeholder part-

Her previous roles include regional vice president of government relations

to the Donlin Gold team. With deep experience in Alaska and strategic leadership across industries, Wendy further strengthens our commitment to meaningful engagement as we advance the project with care and integrity,” said Todd Dahlman, Donlin Gold’s general manager. “My career has been focused on empowering connections and inspiring growth,” Lindskoog said. “In this rela- tionship-focused role, I am honored to contribute to a project with such sig- nificance for Alaska and look forward to working closely with stakeholders to build momentum and create oppor - tunities for shared success.”

at Royal Caribbean Group, vice president of communi - cations and external affairs at BP Exploration Alaska, chief administrative officer and corporate board secretary at Alaska Railroad Corporation, and director of communi - cations at the Alaska State Legislature. Throughout her career, she has advanced

nerships, joining an expe- rienced and long-standing team specializing in external affairs and community en - gagement. A veteran in public policy and stakeholder engage- ment, Lindskoog brings over

New structure of ownership touts push for drilling The big Donlin Gold project has fresh momentum with its new own- ership structure and new management in place. Todd Dahlman, new General Manager at Donlin Gold, provided an update in early September on the de- posit on the Kuskokwim River 275 miles west of Anchorage on Donlin Creek near the community of Crooked Creek. Work is continuing this year on resource eval- uation and geotechnical drilling, and an updated feasibility study for the project is underway, Dahlman said. The new ownership structure in- volves NovaGold Resources, which previously owned 50% of the project — increasing its share to 60% — and Paulson Advisors, a major investor in NovaGold, acquiring a 40% share. Barrick Gold, previously 50% owner, exited the project last summer to fo - cus on other priorities, Dahlman said. Calista Corporation — the re- gional Alaska Native corporation for southwest Alaska — is the subsur- face resource owner, with surface lands owned by the Kuskokwim Cor- poration, a consortium of small vil- lage corporations in the area. Dahlman said Paulson is an ex- perienced investor and has a deep knowledge of Donlin Gold through its involvement with NovaGold. A bet- ter alignment of interests among the owners has given the project fresh momentum, he said. This is evidenced in the current pace of activity. Four drill rigs are at work this year with 15,000 meters of drilling and 50 test holes planned to

three decades of experience working at the intersection of industry, govern - ment and enhancing relationships with Alaska communities.

industry goals while building strong relationships with communities and policymakers. “We are excited to welcome Wendy

fields via the Matanuska-Susitna Bor - ough. Dahlman noted the concerns over pending declines in gas production from the Inlet region, but said the area has po- tential for new gas discoveries. Donlin Gold would be a large new cus- tomer for explorers and gas producers in the Inlet with a steady, year-round de- mand. This will provide major incentives for explorers to find new gas, he said. There is a long history to the Donlin Gold project. The deposit was originally discovered more than 40 years ago by geol- ogists working with Calista Corporation to help guide Calista in selecting lands under its land entitlement from the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Calista worked for several years to in- terest a major mining company in explo - ration and in the 1980s was able to bring in Placer Dome, which did substantial drilling over several years. For corporate reasons, Placer scaled back its work and NovaGold, a “junior” exploration company, stepped in to invest in further exploration. NovaGold found more gold, earning a 50% share of the project. Barrick then acquired Placer Dome and its 50% share and became the project operator under the Donlin Gold Joint Venture.

Photo Courtesy Donlin Gold

now is on bringing the known deposit into production, Dahlman said. Typ- ically, once a mine gets into produc- tion, additional resources are found and the mine life is extended. This has happened at other mines, such as at the Fort Knox gold mine near Fairbanks, where Dahlman previously served as general manager. If it moves into construction, Donlin Gold will be a considerable project and management of logistics will be critical to success. The main supply corridor will be up the Kuskokwim River from Bethel. An existing airstrip at the site that supports exploration will have to be expanded, and facilities to support operations and 600 to 800 personnel will be needed, Dahlman noted. A 315-mile pipeline is planned to bring natural gas from Cook Inlet gas

gather more information for resource modeling as well as geotechnical information for designing the “pit walls” of the mine. Drilling is also planned to locate pits for gravel resources, Dahlman said. This is significant because it signaled that the project is moving into construc - tion planning. The company has about 70 employees at the site this summer, many of them hired locally from 19 communities in the Yukon-Kuskok- wim region of Southwest Alaska. Donlin Gold is one of the world’s largest undeveloped known gold de- posits with about 39 million ounces of resources, which is sufficient to support 1.1 million ounces of gold production for 22 years of mine life now estimated. There is additional gold potential in the area, but the company’s focus

I am a geologist. I am a gardener. I am mining. I wasn’t born here, I chose Alaska. After hearing stories from one of my professors about working in Alaska, I decided to enroll at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to pursue a master’s degree in economic geology. I met my future wife that first year and took a seasonal job on a mining exploration crew. Two decades later, I’m still here doing what I love – identifying new deposits as Kinross Alaska’s Exploration Manager, tending to the family garden and enjoying the great quality of life that Alaska has to offer.

— Tim Bradner

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

of the population, particularly the availability of the workforce, which is composed primarily of younger residents. Declining school populations are a source of concern in Fairbanks as well as other communities, but this must be seen in a broader context, Hopkins said. The outmigration of working-age families is a factor, but what is actually happening is that families are putting children into alternative education, such as home schooling, rather than public schools, Hopkins said. “There has been a 20% decline in public school enrollment in the Fair- banks North Star Borough School District,” but this is being offset to a large degree by parents choosing to home school, Hopkins said. “The overall size of the school-age pop- ulation hasn’t declined that much.”

expanding at Fort Wainwright, which also supports a Stryker Bri- gade, one of the Army’s mobile quick-response units that is also trained for northern climate war- fare. The addition could expand the local military population by 1,000, with 300 to 400 uniformed person- nel and 600 to 700 family members. The military has been an eco- nomic anchor for the Fairbanks community since World War II and the Interior bases have been steadi- ly expanded through the Cold War years and the recent geopolitical tensions. Additions in recent years have included at Fort Greely near Delta, east of Fairbanks, with missile in- terceptors, and at Clear Force Sta- tion, southwest of the city, which has advanced radar to detect and track enemy missile attacks. Most recently, advanced F-35 intercep- tors have been based at Eielson. While the North Slope work and military expansions have boosted Fairbanks, there is new uncertainty over continued federal support for research at the University of Alas- ka Fairbanks, another pillar of the local economy. Federal funding cuts at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) have raised concerns, Hopkins said. The NSF and NIH are both major sources of funding for research at UAF, which is the state’s major re - search university. The new uncer- tainties could result in difficulties in retaining highly skilled research faculty and staff at the Fairbanks campus, Hopkins said. “It’s a mixed picture in general, but the local economy is generally stable,” Hopkins said. Population trends in Fairbanks are similar to those of other Alaska communities, including Anchorage, with a gradual out-migration of working-age adults, which typically have families, but a rising popula- tion of senior citizens. “The trend is for us to have 5,000 80-year-olds by 2035,” Hopkins said, which will require a steady development of local senior housing and services, such as in health care.

Older Alaskans help stabilize the local economy because many are on pensions and other forms of sup- port, which is money brought into the community. However, there also are concerns for the composition

— Tim Bradner

Fairbanks economy in a good spot, mayor says Support industries Fairbanks continues to be a hub for multiple industries in the Interior, Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins says.

nies, equipment rental firms and other support providers busy, as well as union labor halls. “It’s a huge boost for us,” Fair- banks North Star Borough May- or Grier Hopkins said, particularly with work for the new Willow and Pikka projects and the numerous associated support industry jobs vi - tal for the work. The community is also catching a big tailwind from continued mil- itary expansion at the U.S. Army’s

Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks and at Eielson Air Force Base east of the Interior Alaska city. At Eielson, the Air Force is bring- ing in four additional KC-135 aerial refueling tankers to join tankers al - ready stationed there, Hopkins said. This will require additional hangars and other aircraft support facilities, and likely additional on-base hous- ing for new Air Force personnel and families. The Army’s 11th Airborne is also

continue to play large Interior role Like all Alaska communities, Fairbanks is facing some economic uncertainties, but there are many positives, too. One of them is the new North Slope oil field develop- ment that is keeping pipe compa-

THE LINK: FALL 2025

www.AlaskaAlliance.com

Page 1 Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 8-9 Page 10-11 Page 12-13 Page 14-15 Page 16-17 Page 18-19 Page 20-21 Page 22-23 Page 24-25 Page 26-27 Page 28-29 Page 30-31 Page 32-33 Page 34-35 Page 36-37 Page 38-39 Page 40-41 Page 42-43 Page 44-45 Page 46-47 Page 48

www.alaskaalliance.com

Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator