Seismic survey design in environmentally sensitive regions of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska

The discovery of Alpine Field has renewed industry interest in oil exploration within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA). Apline Field, near the northeast border of the NPRA, is the first commercial production from the Jurassic sands within the Kingak Shale. It is estimated to contain in excess of 400 million barrels of proven reserves and, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the stratigraphic conditions found at Alpine are likely to extend across the northern portion of the NPRA. Over the last several years, geophysical companies have collected 3D seismic data along the expected Alpine trend.