When it comes to the Alaska oil and gas boom, the coastal plain is extremely promising. Resources could be on the same scale of Prudhoe Bay. These resources could reduce the country's reliance on foreign oil and keep the Alaska pipeline in service for decades to come. This would benefit the oil industry, national economy, and people in Alaska. However, the options for this development remain limited.
The development of natural gas pipeline from the North Slope could greatly enhance Prudhoe Bay City's economics. Natural gas pipelines could potentially include a warm-water LNG port and would further enhance the commercial potential of the 1002-area. But until recently, the estimated cost of a pipeline was prohibitive. Recent steep increases in natural gas prices have improved the relationship between costs and known gas resources in the North Slope.