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Oil and Natural Gas Supply
The Arctic Energy Office
Alaska North Slope Resources
Additional oil production from known resources as well as new discoveries are essential for keeping the Trans
Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) operating both technically
and economically. The lower limit of effective operation
for TAPS is in the range of 200,000 barrels per day. Current
production rates are about 700,000 barrels per day down
from a maximum of over 2 million barrels per day in 1988.
The economic limit of TAPS will depend on world oil prices
and operating costs, but as oil production rates continue
to decline, the tariffs can be expected to increase, affecting
the economic viability of all North Slope production. With
currently producing and identified development, the TAPS
minimum flow rate could be reached as early as 2045 and strand over a billion barrels of oil currently booked as
reserves (economically producible). Maintaining the viability
of the TAPS pipeline is essential for maintaining access to undiscovered North Slope resources and requires access in a
timely manner to the most promising areas for exploration
and development, such as all of National Petroleum Reserve Alaska, and the Outer Continental Shelf.
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ABOUT NETL
Deepwater Technology
