National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Formerly known as the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska is now a vast 22.8-million acre area on Alaska's North Slope. In 1923, mindful of the land's conceivable petroleum value, President Harding set aside this area as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy. In 1976, in accordance with the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, the administration of the reserve was transferred to the Department of the Interior, more specifically the Bureau of Land Management, and was renamed to what is now known as the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).
Oil and Gas Leasing in the NPR-A
Oil and gas leasing in the NPR-A is authorized under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C.6501 et seq.), as amended including the The Department of the Interior Appropriations Act of 1981 (94 Stat. 2964). Regulations for NPR-A oil and gas leasing, exploration and operations are found in 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 3130, 3150, 3160, respectively. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended and supplemented (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and related regulations do not apply to leasing in the NPR-A.
The BLM holds annual oil and gas lease sales for the NPR-A. View current lease sale information on the Alaska Oil and Gas Leasing page
Current Lease information
- NPR-A Oil & Gas Leases (updated 7/19/2016)
- NPR-A Oil & Gas Expirations (updated 1/27/2015)
- NPR-A Oil & Gas Lease Relinquishments (updated 9/2016)
- NPR-A Oil & Gas Terminations
- NPR-A Sale Statistics 1999 to Present
Pending and Approved Applications for Permit to Drill (APDs) & Notices of Staking (NOSs)
Bear Tooth Unit
Operator: ConocoPhillips
Unit Agreement: ALIS/Case # AA081738
Effective Date: 8/25/2009
Mooses Tooth Unit
Operator: ConocoPhillips
Unit Agreement: ALIS/Case # AA087852
Effective Date: 1/28/2008