The U.S. Geological Survey announced Wednesday that Alaska’s North Slope holds an estimated 96 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable, undiscovered natural gas, nearly three times the roughly 35 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves already identified in the region.
The new figure includes an additional 3 trillion cubic feet beyond the agency’s prior assessments. At current U.S. consumption rates, that increment alone represents roughly three years of national natural gas supply.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum pointed to the find as evidence of Alaska’s untapped potential. “Alaska is one of America’s greatest energy frontiers, and President Trump is committed to unlocking its extraordinary potential,” Burgum said. “Alaska’s natural gas reserves can supply affordable, reliable, secure energy to Americans and our South Pacific allies for generations, and this assessment helps underscore the importance of understanding these vast resources beneath the North Slope and using world-class American science to turn that potential into opportunity. By advancing responsible energy development, we can strengthen American Energy Dominance, create jobs and deliver lasting economic benefits for Alaskans and the entire nation.”
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Andrea Travnicek tied the assessment to the administration’s broader Alaska energy agenda. “This North Slope assessment, backed by the world-class science of the USGS, supports President Trump’s Executive Order 14153 signed the first day of this administration: Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” Travnicek said. “Alaska’s untapped, abundant energy and mineral resources are needed for U.S. economic and national security, and for the benefit of Alaskans. Under Secretary Burgum’s Order 3422, we will continue to prioritize investigation of Alaska’s energy and mineral resources.”
Natural gas is a globally traded commodity, meaning a larger confirmed Alaskan supply has implications well beyond the state’s borders. The discovery also renews the case for finally completing Alaska’s long-stalled natural gas pipeline, which would allow the resource to actually reach markets.
As of this writing, natural gas futures were trading up slightly at $2.8174.
