Anchorage Daily News

High cost of energy sparks lots of chatter

WASHINGTON -- Ideas to lower the nation's high energy prices faced a whirlwind of hearings, press conferences, speeches and votes on energy in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

GOP hopefuls get close look at ANWR

The rhetoric over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is heating up as gas prices rise, with pro-drilling members of Congress and congressional hopefuls making visits to the refuge to hammer home their point.

Fall NPR-A leases draw praise

The government this fall plans to offer oil drillers potentially millions of acres for lease in a giant federal tract on the North Slope.

Resolution of Exxon interest payment issue may be soon

The U.S. Supreme Court could decide by the end of the month whether Exxon Mobil Corp. owes $488 million in disputed interest to fishermen and other plaintiffs for the 1989 oil spill.

More on the Exxon Valdez spill

The facts have not slowed the legend of Gull Island oil

Along with a surging interest in fuel-efficient automobiles and biking to work, the legend of Alaska's Gull Island, a speck of land four miles or so offshore the North Slope in the middle of Prudhoe Bay, seems to have an uncanny ability to appear when the United States is facing soaring oil and gasoline prices.

Oil prices plunge to $138

Oil prices fell harder than they have in 17 years Tuesday as fears that record fuel prices are spreading broad economic pain exacerbated the third big sell-off in just over a week.

Horizontal wells will let BP tap hard-to-reach oil field

Imagine a bent straw made out of steel extending 8 miles long and 2 miles deep, plunging through icy water and miles of undersea rock.

BP and partner plot new assault on field

Looking to possibly restart a problematic oil field, BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. and an independent oil company are proposing to drill two wells in the Badami unit to avoid losing leases there.

Exxon hires crew to work on disputed field

Exxon Mobil Corp. has hired contractors with plans to begin work on an oil and gas field the state wants to take back. The field's rich cache of oil and gas sit at the heart of a dispute over a proposed natural gas pipeline,.

Workers needed in oil fields

Oil industry officials in Alaska said they need to fill hundreds of jobs in preparation for more development on the North Slope and the Arctic Ocean and because of the aging of the current workforce.

Oil industry seeking able workers

FAIRBANKS -- Oil industry officials in Alaska said they need to fill hundreds of jobs in preparation for more development on the North Slope and the Arctic Ocean and because of the aging work force.

US Senate GOP drops ANWR

Senate Republicans have dropped the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from their energy policy discussions, focusing instead on persuading Democrats to lift a moratorium on offshore drilling.

More on ANWR

Photos: ANWR's 1002 area

Conservation groups sue to protect Arctic marine mammals

Two conservation groups are challenging the Bush administration's recent decision to let oil companies unintentionally harass or harm polar bears and walruses in the growing pursuit of fossil fuels off the northwestern Alaska coast.

Oil extends slide into 2nd day, losing over $5

Oil prices tumbled more than $5 a barrel Tuesday in its second big drop this week, hurling crude back to levels not seen since June 26 as traders wary about the health of the global economy cashed in gains from oil's recent rally.

North Slope oil production down in June

North Slope oil production averaged 666,873 barrels per day in June, a 5.5 percent drop from May's average. All the fields there, except Northstar, had less production in June, driven by a planned shutdown of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline at the end of the month and planned field maintenance.

Palin pitches in-state natural gas pipeline

The state will partner with Enstar Natural Gas Co. to build a pipeline to carry gas through the state's midsection, Gov. Sarah Palin said Monday.

More on natural gas pipelines

Point Thomson battle lurks in gas line debate

Oil giant Chevron is a small player on Alaska's North Slope compared with BP, Conoco Phillips and Exxon Mobil.

Monday's gold, zinc prices

The spot gold price was $927.30 per ounce Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, a loss of $4.60.

Anadarko sees huge gas potential near Umiat

Anadarko Petroleum believes its land holdings in the foothills of the Brooks Range have the potential to hold 2 trillion to 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Alaska oil hits a new record

Alaska oil prices on Tuesday closed above $140 a barrel for the first time. Oil prices worldwide rose on worries about tight supply and mounting tensions in the Middle East. In the United States, prices at the gas pump edged to their highest point yet.

Oil industry trumpets its economic impact

The Alaska Oil and Gas Association published a study on Monday detailing the jobs, total payroll and tax revenue generated by Alaska's oil and gas industry last year.

PDF: Role of oil and gas in Alaska's economy