Alaska labours to change direction

Near-term output is expected to wane despite political backing for the Willow project

Alaska’s oil sector is struggling to reverse its steadily declining output. The state’s oil production fell to an average of 448,000bl/d in 2020, its lowest level in more than 40 years, according to the EIA. While the Covid-19 pandemic was a factor in this, the declining trend had been clear long before. Producers in Alaska remain confident in the state’s oil and gas potential, but there are various obstacles to realising it. And while some of these could be addressed, others may be more terminal. Like many other regions where oil development can be costly and challenging, Alaska has struggled to compete for investment with shale plays in the Lower 48 states. Crude prices have been strengthe