ConocoPhillips nearing Willow FID
Alaska's upstream continues to gain momentum despite environmental concerns
US superindie ConocoPhillips appears close to making an FID on its $8bn Willow oil project in Alaska, after missing two construction seasons due to lawsuits filed by conservation groups against its original federal regulatory approval. The development follows closely on the heels of Australian independent Santos and Spanish energy company Repsol sanctioning the first phase of the Pikka oil project in August, but it appears more significant for the Alaskan oil industry as it opens the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) to development. Long and winding road “Project planning [for Willow] has spanned five presidential administrations,” Rebecca Boys, a spokeswoman for ConocoPhillips Alask
Also in this section
23 January 2026
A strategic pivot away from Russian crude in recent weeks tees up the possibility of improved US-India trade relations
23 January 2026
The signing of a deal with a TotalEnergies-led consortium to explore for gas in a block adjoining Israel’s maritime area may breathe new life into the country’s gas ambitions
22 January 2026
As Saudi Arabia pushes mining as a new pillar of its economy, Saudi Aramco is positioning itself at the intersection of hydrocarbons, minerals and industrial policy
22 January 2026
New long-term deal is latest addition to country’s rapidly evolving supply portfolio as it eyes role as regional gas hub






