National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska history
The oil is shallow and of high qual- ity, but the deposit was never devel- oped for production. Companies are still interested in Umiat, however, because of the poten- tial that additional resources can be added. Congress meanwhile transferred the reserve to the Department of the Interior in 1976, renaming it the Nation- al Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. In the 1980s President Ronald Reagan decided it was time to turn the exploration over to private industry, and the first lease sales in NPR-A were held. At first industry drilled its share of dry holes, but then exploring com- panies developed new technologies in the 1990s and after 2000 that began to make commercial-size discoveries.
needed to have sources of oil supply even though, in the case of the slope, it was just potential. It was to remain just potential for decades. After years of dry holes, many drilled by the Navy itself and others later by the U.S. Geological Survey, and by contractors working for the U.S.G.S., only small oil and gas finds had been made, all uneconomic in a commercial sense. A gas field was discovered at Barrow (now Utqiagvik ) which now supplies the community with energy for power generation and space heat- ing. A small oil field was discovered at Umiat, on the Colville River along the southeast boundary of the reserve with state lands.
The 23-million-acre National Pe- troleum Reserve-Alaska is almost 100 years old. Explorers have been search- ing for commercial oil and gas for almost 70 years in the reserve. Major discoveries are just now being made. NPR-A is a 23-million-acre feder- al enclave west of the North Slope’s large producing fields. Explorers have drilled wells for years there beginning in the 1950s when the reserve was the U.S. Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4. The reserve was created in 1923 by President Warren Harding on the advice of federal geologists who even then, just after Alaska’s gold rush era, were exploring North Slope geological formations for their oil potential. The U.S. Navy was converting its ships from coal to oil and the Navy
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out a program of competitive oil and gas leasing and development with pri- vate companies leading the exploration and development, while also protecting surface values to the extent consistent with the exploration and production requirements of the 1976 law. Interior’s decision in late December is part of a broader effort to increase access to federal lands in Alaska, the agency said. It follows the recent rescis - sion of the 2024 rule under the admin - istration of former President Joe Biden that restricted leasing in the reserve. The action advances the Trump Ad- ministration’s efforts to expand do - mestic energy production under Exec - utive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, strengthening American energy security and economic opportunity. The BLM is preparing to hold a lease sale in the reserve this winter, the first of five directed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While the agency has offered tracts in the area since the 1980s, this will be the first lease sale since 2019. The BLM initiated the process in October with a Call for Nominations and Comments, and will soon announce sale details in
a Notice of Sale. The 23-million-acre reserve is the largest federally managed tract of land in the United States. It is also where ConocoPhillips has made its Willow discovery in the northeast part of the reserve. ConocoPhillips has proposed plans for a large exploration season this winter, which could set the stage for more discoveries. The Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, an organization of elected leaders from North Slope communities, said it sup- ports the reversal of the restrictive Biden plan. Infrastructure from oil and gas activity provides tax revenue for education, health care and modern services like running water and sew- er, the group said in a statement. The decision “lays the foundation for future economic, community, and cultural opportunities across our region — particularly for the communities within the (petroleum reserve),” said Rex Rock Sr., President of the Arctic Slope Regional Corp., the Alaska Native regional corporation for the area.
agency invited consultation with tribes and Alaska Native Corporations, and held a 14-day public comment period on the draft assessment. “The plan approved gives us a clear framework and needed certainty to harness the incredible potential of the reserve. We look forward to continuing to work with Alaskans, industry and local partners as we move decisively into the next phase of leasing and de- velopment,” BLM Alaska State Direc - tor Kevin Pendergast said. Congress first established the re - serve, formerly known as Naval Pe - troleum Reserve No. 4, as a strategic domestic energy source to support the U.S. Navy’s energy needs during war - time. Then known as NPR-4, the re - serve was managed by the Navy, which also carried out a government-spon- sored exploration program. In 1976, Congress transferred man - agement to the Interior Department and the BLM. The Naval Petroleum Re - serves Production Act of 1976 directed the Secretary of the Interior to carry
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THE LINK: The Official Magazine of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance | WINTER 2026
www.AlaskaAlliance.com
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