A synthesis of existing, planned, and proposed infrastructure and operations supporting oil and gas activities and commercial transportation in Arctic Alaska.

• Author: Hillmer-Pegram, Kevin
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Arctic Oil & Gas

Author's Summary

This report synthesizes quantitative and qualitative information about existing, planned, and proposed infrastructure and operations that support oil and gas production and commercial transportation over the whole of Arctic Alaska, compiling a region-wide vision of these industrial activities that has not previously existed. It provides readers with an overview of the history, current conditions, and plausible future extent of industrial infrastructure in Arctic Alaska. It is intended as a factual and unbiased reference for the wide range of stakeholders interested in such industrial activities in support of integrated Arctic planning.

In addition to tables and text, the report contains ten original maps of infrastructure created by Nathan Walker with the aid of Melanie Smith at Audubon Alaska. Numerous beautiful photographs of oil and gas infrastructure in Arctic Alaska illustrate it.

The report finds that if proposed infrastructure projects develop in the manner described in state and federal analyses, the extent of Arctic Alaska's industrial infrastructure would increase significantly. The number of structures would almost double, from 460 to 816. The number of wells would increase by around one third, from 6,215 to 8,673. Miles of road would more than double, from 1,138 to 2,503. Miles of pipeline would more than quadruple, from 901 to 4,667. Lastly, the infrastructure footprint would increase by about half, with over 27,000 acres of Arctic Alaska ultimately being directly covered or excavated for industrial development.

Given the significant amount of infrastructure that is plausibly foreseeable, the benefits and drawbacks of development--in terms of economic, social, and environmental impacts--should be carefully weighed and deliberated by the multiple stakeholders involved in regional decision-making.

Sub-Regions of Arctic Alaska Introduction

The land and sea sub-regions that comprise Arctic Alaska exhibit a complex arrangement of political jurisdictions and legal designations for use. Authority over different areas is divided among federal, state, municipal, and Alaska Native entities, with multiple organizations sharing authority in many cases. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader to Arctic Alaska by briefly describing the jurisdictions and designations for use in each sub region used by this report. The six sub-regions generally follow common geographic and political boundaries and should be...