Introduction
The US Geological Survey (USGS) (http://alaska.usgs.gov/) is a bureau of the US Department of the Interior with a focus on understanding US natural resources. On a national level, the USGS Energy Resource Program conducts research specific to understanding geologic energy resources, in particular oil, natural gas, coal, coalbed methane (CBM), gas hydrates, geothermal resources, uranium, oil shale, and bitumen and heavy oil.
U.S. Geological Survey
Image: usgs.gov
There are many current notable collaborative research efforts in Alaska, with partners ranging from other federal entities (BLM, MMS, DOE) to state (ADFG, ADNR), private, tribal, and university (UAA, UAF) entities. These projects include gas hydrate studies in northern Alaska, coalbed gas studies, and geologic framework and assessment studies on the North Slope of Alaska. One recently completed study, the Assessment of Gas Hydrate Resources on the North Slope, Alaska, 2008, provided the first assessment of undiscovered technically recoverable gas-hydrate resources on the North Slope, estimating the resource at 85 trillion cubic feet (TCF).
This report and other Alaska-specific research and publications can be found at energy.usgs.gov/alaska.