At first glance, it’s hard to imagine why Papua New Guinea-based Oil Search decided to venture into the Arctic after almost ninety years in the tropics. Their acquired assets, which they took operatorship of in March, include a 25.5 percent interest in the Pikka Unit and adjacent exploration acreage and a 37.5 percent interest in the Horseshoe Block.
Renewable energy projects, especially solar, operate at scales of much larger magnitude in the Lower 48 than in Alaska. But size isn’t everything, and there has been a strong uptick in the development of renewable energy projects in the Alaska since 2008.
When people in the Lower 48—and even plenty of those here in the Last Frontier—think about mining in Alaska, they think gold. With the state producing 14 percent of the nation’s gold in 2014, they think gold for a good reason. From the Southeast to the Interior, mining operations and continued exploration efforts, both large and small, reveal glimmering prospects for those hunting the precious metal.
Because of the state’s fierce weather and remote areas, multilayer systems are integrated into comprehensive vessel response protocols for tankers and non-tankers operating in Alaska’s waters, ensuring the health of both the environment and the state’s economy.