Oil and gas company Hilcorp is moving toward new oil and gas exploration work in interior Alaska, according to public documents released by state land managers.
On September 19, Hilcorp applied to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to install water level gauges in Birch Creek, near the Yukon River, “in support of oil and gas operations.”
Hilcorp previously partnered with Doyon, a Native-owned regional corporation in interior Alaska, to explore the region.
The original contract covered 1.6 million acres of exploration. Doyon said on an information webpage that only 3% of the area was selected by Hilcorp for further exploration this year.
“While specific action plans for the remainder of 2024 and 2025 are still in the works, Hilcorp and Doyon will continue to provide regular status updates to community leaders,” the page reads. .
The area is relatively close to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, but also close to the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, which could complicate development plans.
Nathaniel Herz welcomes tips at (email protected) or (907) 793-0312. This article was originally published in Herz’s newsletter, Northern Journal. Please subscribe using this link.
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