Table 1. Localities shown on map.


Number on map


Feature


Description and source(s) of information


Kotzebue basin and vicinity-

1
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep on the Noatak River was investigated by the U.S. 
Geological Survey and is regarded as "very doubtful" (Miller and 
others, 1959, p. 81).

2
Well with gas show(s)
A hole drilled in 1949-1950 at Kotzebue to test for fresh water at 
depth found gas under high pressure in Quaternary deposits at 238 ft 
(73 m). The gas lifted the heavy string of drilling tools several 
feet into the air, showered the area with mud, and continued to flow 
at decreasing pressure for more than 24 hours. The well reportedly 
penetrated gravel to a depth of 23 ft (7 m), blue mud to a depth of 
79 ft (24 m), thawed gravel containing salt water at 79-83 ft (24-25 
m), frozen blue clay or mud containing sand and gravel at 83-238 ft 
(25-73 m), and thawed brown silt saturated with salt water from 238 
ft (73 m) to the bottom of the hole at 325 ft (99 m) (Cederstrom, 
1952, p. 35; Miller and others, 1959, p. 81). The gas is thought to 
have been derived from decaying vegetal material in the Quaternary 
deposits (Miller and others, 1959, p. 81).

3
Well with gas show(s)
The Standard Oil Company of California Nimiuk Point Well No. 1 was 
drilled in 1974 to a total depth of 6,311 ft (1,924 m) and abandoned 
as a dry hole. The mudlog depicts small amounts of methane at about 
400-600 ft (120-180 m) and trace amounts of methane at 750 ft (230 m) 
and possibly at 3,900 ft (1,190 m). The mudlog also shows a trace of 
tar contamination at about 750 ft, but the source of the 
contamination is unclear. A formation test of the interval 
3,537-3,755 ft (1,078-1,145 m) recovered salt water but no oil or 
gas. Rock-Eval pyrolysis of ditch samples at depths of 790 ft (241 m) 
and 1,420 ft (433 m) found evidence of bitumen in the form of 
coalescing S1 and S2 peaks; organic geochemical analyses (including 
chromatograms) of this bitumen suggest that it is biodegraded, 
thermally immature, and probably derived from terrigenous organic 
material.

4
Well with gas show(s)
Gas was found at a depth of 90 ft (27 m) in a seismic shot hole 
drilled in 1973 by the Standard Oil Company of California on the 
Kobuk River Delta, about 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Kotzebue. 
Laboratory analysis of the gas showed it to consist of about 66 
percent methane, 26 percent nitrogen, 6 percent oxygen, 2 percent 
carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of ethane and higher alkanes. Two 
additional samples of gas were obtained from another shot hole of 
uncertain location but presumably nearby, and were found to consist 
of 96-97 percent methane, 1-2 percent nitrogen, 1-2 percent carbon 
dioxide, and trace amounts of ethane and higher alkanes. Analyses of 
the carbon isotopic compositions of hydrocarbons in the latter two 
samples indicated that the methane was of biogenic origin.

5
Well with gas show(s)
Gas was found at a depth of 65 ft (20 m) in a seismic shot hole 
drilled in 1973 by the Standard Oil Company of California on the 
Kobuk River Delta, about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Kotzebue. 
Laboratory analysis of the gas showed it to consist of about 64 
percent methane (presumably of biogenic origin), 19 percent nitrogen, 
17 percent carbon dioxide, less than 1 percent oxygen, and trace 
amounts of ethane and higher alkanes.

6
Well with gas show(s)

The Standard Oil Company of California Cape Espenberg Well No. 1 was 
drilled in 1975 to a total depth of 8,373 ft (2,552 m) and abandoned 
as a dry hole. No shows of oil or gas were reported in the well 
history, but the mudlog depicts small amounts of methane associated 
with coal-bearing strata. Formation tests of four intervals recovered 
some salt water but no oil or gas. Rock-Eval pyrolysis of ditch 
samples at depths of 1,450 ft (442 m) and 2,290 ft (698 m) found 
evidence of bitumen in the form of coalescing S1 and S2 peaks; 
organic geochemical analyses (including chromatograms) of this 
bitumen suggest that it is biodegraded, thermally immature, and 
probably derived from terrigenous organic material.

7
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep located about 15 miles (25 km) southeast of Devil 
Mountain in the northern coastal plain of the Seward Peninsula is 
said to be marked by "a spring that never freezes and leaves a red 
stain, tasting like gasoline in the snow" (Miller and others, 1959, 
p. 81-82). This occurrence was later investigated by a bush pilot who 
reported a pond covered with slush ice in which there were 5 holes 
from which water was issuing, one of which smelled strongly of 
gasoline or crude oil. D.M. Hopkins, a geologist of the U.S. 
Geological Survey, flew over the site in 1949 and later stated that 
he believed it to be a warm spring and that any gases present were 
marsh gases from decaying peat, but that it was conceivable that it 
could be an oil seep (Miller and others, 1959, p. 81-82).

8
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
A reported oil seep in the headwaters area of the Nugnugaluktuk 
River, about 10-15 miles (15-25 km) south of Devil Mountain in the 
northern coastal plain of the Seward Peninsula, is said to have been 
marked by an oil slick on a small lake, but has not been investigated 
by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 1959, p. 81). A 
sample reportedly collected from the seep yielded gasoline upon 
distillation and therefore was undoubtedly a mineral oil, according 
to a laboratory report dated 1922 and cited by Miller and others 
(1959, p. 81).

Norton basin and vicinity-

9
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
Oil seeps have been reported in the Sinuk Valley near the junction of 
the Sinuk and Stewart Rivers about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of 
Nome, but have not been investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey 
(Miller and others, 1959, p. 80, plate 1). The Bartholomae Oil 
Company reportedly drilled several exploratory wells in the area but 
the locations and dates of these wells are uncertain (Miller and 
others, 1959, p. 80).

10
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
Oil seeps have been reported from the coastal plain near Nome but 
their existence is regarded as doubtful (Miller and others, 1959, p. 
80, plate 1).

11
Well with gas show(s)
Four exploratory oil wells were drilled in the coastal plain near 
Nome (Cathcart, 1920, p. 196-197; Miller and others, 1959, p. 80). 
Two wells were drilled in 1906; the first well encountered gas at a 
depth of 122 (37 m) which "blew a 1,200-pound stem 75 feet up the 
hole," whereas the second well was 176 ft (57 m) deep and reportedly 
yielded a trace of oil. Two more wells were drilled in 1918; the 
first well was abandoned at a depth of 210 ft (64 m) owing to the 
loss of a bailer in the hole, and the second well reached a depth of 
about 150 ft (46 m) before drilling was apparently stopped (Cathcart, 
1920, p. 196-197; Miller and others, 1959, p. 80).

12
Gas seep, confirmed
In 1976, a submarine seep of gas was discovered in Norton Sound about 
25-30 miles (40-50 km) south of Nome (Cline and Holmes, 1977; 
Kvenvolden and Claypool, 1980). Subsequent sampling and analysis 
showed that the gas consisted of about 98 percent CO2 with minor 
amounts of hydrocarbons consisting of gas-range (C1 to C4) and 
gasoline-range (C5 to C8) molecules (Kvenvolden and Claypool, 1980). 
The molecular and isotopic characteristics of the hydrocarbons 
suggest that they formed by thermal alteration of marine and (or) 
nonmarine organic matter buried within Norton basin, whereas the CO2 
probably formed from decarbonation of carbonate rocks by heat or 
fluids (Kvenvolden and Claypool, 1980).

13
Well with oil show(s)
The ARCO OCS Y-0436 Well No. 1 in Norton Sound was drilled in 1984 on 
the Birch prospect to a total depth of 10,950 ft (3,338 m) and 
abandoned as a dry hole. The well was located about 33 miles (53 km) 
southwest of Nome in about 65 ft (20 m) of water. The mudlog 
indicates strong shows of methane at depths of 1,200-3,600 ft 
(366-1,097 m); sporadic, weak shows of oil at 7,800-8,400 ft 
(2,377-2,560 m); and numerous minor shows of gas (including methane, 
ethane, and higher alkanes) at many intervals below 8,400 ft (2,560 
m). However, none of these shows were considered worthy of a drill 
stem test (Smith, 1994, p. 37).

14
Well with gas show(s)
The COST Well No. 1 in Norton Sound was drilled in 1980 to a total 
depth of 14,683 ft (4,475 m) and abandoned as a dry hole. The well 
was located in about 90 ft (30 m) of water in the St. Lawrence 
subbasin, about 54 miles (87 km) southwest of Nome. Biogenic methane 
was reported at depths shallower than 6,000 ft (1,800 m) and traces 
of thermogenic hydrocarbons were found at depth, but no significant 
oil shows were encountered in this well (Turner and others, 1986, p. 
103).

15
Well with gas show(s)
The Exxon OCS Y-0414 Well No. 1 in Norton Sound was drilled in 1984 
on the South Teton prospect to a total depth of 3,636 ft (1,108 m) 
and abandoned as a dry hole. The well was located about 63 miles (101 
km) southeast of Nome in about 54 ft (16 m) of water. The mudlog 
shows moderate to strong shows of methane at about 1,200-2,100 ft 
(366-640 m); minor shows of methane below 2,200 ft (671 m); and a 
trace of oil at about 3,450-3,470 ft (1,052-1,058 m). No drill stem 
tests were conducted (Desautels, 1988, p. 522-524; Smith, 1994, p. 
37).

16
Well with gas show(s)
The Exxon OCS Y-0407 Well No. 1 in Norton Sound was drilled in 1985 
on the Yellow Pup prospect to a total depth of 7,867 ft (2,398 m) and 
abandoned as a dry hole. The well was located about 62 miles (99 km) 
southeast of Nome in about 55 ft (17 m) of water. The mudlog depicts 
moderate to strong shows of methane at about 2,100-3,100 ft (640-945 
m) and sporadic, weak to moderate shows of gas associated with 
coal-bearing intervals at about 3,200-3,300 ft (975-1,006 m), 
5,250-5,850 ft (1,600-1,783 m), and 7,150-7,600 ft (2,179-2,316 m). 
Some of the gas is thought to be of thermogenic origin, but no oil 
shows were encountered (Desautels, 1988, p. 527) and no drill stem 
tests were conducted (Smith, 1994, p. 37).

17
Well with gas show(s)
The Exxon OCS Y-0398 Well No. 1 in Norton Sound was drilled in 1985 
on the Cascade prospect to a total depth of 6,913 ft (2,107 m) and 
abandoned as a dry hole. The well was located about 62 miles (99 km) 
southeast of Nome in about 55 ft (17 m) of water. The mudlog depicts 
numerous small indications of methane throughout the well, and many 
of the methane shows at 2,800-5,400 ft (853-1,646) appear to be 
associated with coal-bearing intervals. Minor fluorescence was noted 
on the mudlog at 4,930-4,940 ft (1,503-1,506 m) and 5,370-5,430 ft 
(1,637-1,655 m), but no oil shows were encountered and no drill stem 
tests were conducted (Desautels, 1988, p. 526; Smith, 1994, p. 37).

18
Well with oil show(s)
The COST Well No. 2 in Norton Sound was drilled in 1982 to a total 
depth of 14,889 ft (4,538 m) and abandoned as a dry hole. The well 
was located in about 49 ft (15 m) of water in the Stuart subbasin, 
about 68 miles (110 km) southeast of Nome. Biogenic gas was found in 
near-surface sandstones, and minor shows of gas, oil, and solid 
bitumen were reported from Eocene strata below depths of about 10,000 
ft (3,000 m) (Turner and others, 1986, p. 117, p. 121). Oil from a 
show at 12,240 ft (3,731 m) is paraffinic and thought to have been 
generated from nearby nonmarine source rocks (Desautels, 1988, p. 
518-519). A strong show of gas was encountered in sandstone at about 
12,210 ft (3,722 m) (Smith, 1994, p. 43).

19
Well with gas show(s)
The Exxon OCS Y-0425 Well No. 1 in Norton Sound was drilled in 1985 
on the flank of the Chugach prospect to a total depth of 6,093 ft 
(1,857 m) and abandoned as a dry hole. The well was located about 78 
miles (124 km) southeast of Nome in about 40 ft (12 m) of water. The 
mudlog depicts no indications of oil but evinces moderate to strong 
shows of methane at depths of about 1,200-3,000 ft (366-914 m) and 
minor shows of gas (including methane, ethane, and higher alkanes) in 
a coal-bearing interval at about 4,900-5,550 ft (1,494-1,692 m). No 
drill stem tests were conducted (Desautels, 1988, p. 527; Smith, 
1994, p. 37 and p. 39).

20
Well with oil show(s)
The Exxon OCS Y-0430 Well No. 1 in Norton Sound was drilled in 1984 
on the Chugach prospect to a total depth of 4,951 ft (1,509 m) and 
abandoned as a dry hole. The well was located about 83 miles (132 km) 
southeast of Nome in about 35 ft (11 m) of water. The mudlog exhibits 
numerous small to moderate shows of methane at depths of about 
1,200-4,000 ft (365-1220 m) and sporadic, minor shows of methane and 
higher alkanes below 4,100 ft. No indications of oil are shown on the 
mudlog, but a subsequent report by Desautels (1988, p. 522) states 
that small amounts of free oil containing about 2 percent sulfur were 
found while coring Paleozoic(?) schist below 4,800 ft (m). The source 
of this high-sulfur oil is unknown but may have been carbonate rocks 
within the Paleozoic(?) interval. No drill stem tests were conducted 
(Desautels, 1988, p. 522-525).

21
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
An oil seep reportedly occurs along the Inglutalik River, which 
drains into Norton Bay, but has not been investigated by the U.S. 
Geological Survey (Miller and others, 1959, p. 80).

22
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Oil shale reportedly occurs on Besboro Island in Norton Sound (Miller 
and others, 1959, p. 80). A 1958 U.S. Geological Survey field 
investigation, however, found no oil shale and determined that 
Besboro Island consists mostly or entirely of altered volcanic and 
volcaniclastic rocks correlative with those of the Koyukuk terrane 
(W.H. Patton, oral commun., 2002). The reported occurrence of oil 
shale is herein regarded as doubtful because it is in an unfavorable 
geologic setting.

Yukon-Koyukuk flysch belt of Kirschner (1988) -

23
Well with no oil or gas shows
The P.G. Benedum Nulato Unit Well No. 1 was drilled in 1960 to a 
total depth of 12,015 ft (3,662 m) and abandoned as a dry hole. No 
shows of oil or gas were reported and no drill stem tests were 
conducted.

Innoko basin and vicinity-

24
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep along the Innoko River about 85 miles (135 km) 
northeast of Aniak is regarded as doubtful on the basis of field 
investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 
1959, plate 1).

25
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep along the Yukon River about 40 miles (65 km) 
northeast of Aniak is regarded as doubtful on the basis of field 
investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 
1959, plate 1).

26
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
A reported oil seep on the northwest side of the Innoko River, about 
30 miles (50 km) northeast of Anvik, has not been investigated by the 
U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 1959, plate 1).

27
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
A reported oil seep on the southeast side of the Innoko River, about 
30 miles (50 km) northeast of Anvik, has not been investigated by the 
U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 1959, plate 1).

28
Gas seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported gas seep, located along the Yukon River about 20 miles (30 
km) north of Anvik, is regarded as doubtful on the basis of field 
investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 
1959, plate 1).

29
Gas seep, reported but unconfirmed
Pockets of gas reportedly collect beneath the ice of the Yukon River 
at Anvik. During the winter, children break the ice and ignite the 
gas, which burns for periods as long as a minute. The gas is thought 
to be derived from decaying vegetal material in the underlying 
alluvial deposits (Miller and others, 1959, p. 70).

Bethel basin and vicinity-

30
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep, located about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of 
Anvik along the Stuyahok River, is regarded as doubtful on the basis 
of field investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and 
others, 1959, plate 1).

31
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
A reported oil seep along the Yukon River near the village of 
Paimiut, about 45 miles (70 km) south of Anvik, has not been 
investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 1959, 
plate 1).

32
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep along the Yukon River near Toklik (formerly 
called Bennetts), about 60 miles (95 km) north of Bethel, is regarded 
as doubtful on the basis of field investigations by the U.S. 
Geological Survey (Miller and others, 1959, plate 1, p. 79).

33
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
A reported oil seep near Whitefish Lake, south of the Kuskokwim 
River, has not been investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey 
(Miller and others, 1959, p. 79).

34
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
A second reported oil seep near Whitefish Lake, south of the 
Kuskokwim River, has not been investigated by the U.S. Geological 
Survey (Miller and others, 1959, p. 79).

35
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Friable sandstone with an oil odor and causing a smudge on the hands 
has been reported on the north side of Nelson Island but has not been 
investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey. The sandstone is 
associated with coal beds and thought to be of Cretaceous age (Miller 
and others, 1959, p. 79; Coonrad, 1957; Waskey, 1946, p. 353).

36
Well with gas show(s)
The Pan American Petroleum Corp. Napatuk Creek Well No. 1 was drilled 
in 1961 to a total depth of 14,910 ft (4,545 m) and abandoned as a 
dry hole. A small amount of gas associated with coal was observed in 
a core from Cretaceous rocks at depths of 3,121-3,141 ft (951-957 m). 
No mudlog was made during drilling of this well (Mull and others, 
1995), but a subsequent analysis of drill cuttings found weak and 
questionable shows of oil in Cretaceous rocks at depths of 2,720 ft, 
7,220 ft, and 10,180 ft (829 m, 2,201 m, and 3,103 m, respectively). 
Four drill stem tests were conducted but no shows of oil or gas were 
found.

37
Well with no oil or gas shows
The Pan American Petroleum Corp. Napatuk Creek Core Hole No. 2 was 
drilled in 1960 to a total depth of 1,423 ft (434 m) and abandoned as 
dry hole. No shows of oil or gas were reported, and no drill stem 
tests were conducted.

38
Well with no oil or gas shows
The Pan American Petroleum Corp. Napatuk Creek Core Hole No. 2A was 
drilled in 1960 to a total depth of 2,140 ft (652 m) and abandoned as 
a dry hole. No shows of oil or gas were reported, and no drill stem 
tests were conducted.

39
Well with no oil or gas shows
The Pan American Petroleum Corp. Johnston River Core Hole No. 1 was 
drilled to a total depth of 1,205 ft (367 m) in 1963 and abandoned as 
a dry hole. No shows of oil or gas were reported, and no drill stem 
tests were conducted.

40
Well with no oil or gas shows
A water well drilled in 1952 at the Alaska Native Service Hospital in 
Bethel penetrated unconsolidated deposits to a depth of 450 ft (137 
m) and hard drilling, possibly in sandstone, to the well's total 
depth at 454 ft (138 m). Permafrost was present to a depth of 403 ft 
(123 m). No shows of hydrocarbons were encountered (Miller and 
others, 1959, p. 78).

41
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
An oil seep near the Eek River is said to have been seen from the 
air, and natives say they have seen oil in this area, but these 
reports have not been investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey 
(Miller and others, 1959, p. 79).

Bristol Bay basin and vicinity-

42
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep near Togiak is regarded as doubtful because it is 
in an unfavorable geologic setting (Miller and others, 1959, plate 1).

Kuskokwim flysch belt of Kirschner (1988) -

43
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Cinnabar at the Mountain Top mercury deposit, about 40 miles (65 km) 
southeast of Sleetmute, is accompanied by "small quantities of a 
light- to dark-brown liquid and solid hydrocarbon * * *. Most of the 
hydrocarbon is found as a transparent, light-brown liquid filling 
vugs and fractures within chalcedony veinlets. Many of the chalcedony 
veinlets contain close packed shells of quartz and chalcedony, some 
of which contain solid dark-brown to black hydrocarbons" (Sorg and 
Estlund, 1972). The cinnabar occurs where faults cut olivine basalt 
that, in turn, intrudes shale and graywacke of the Cretaceous 
Kuskokwim Group (Sorg and Estlund, 1972).

Kobuk flysch belt of Kirschner (1988) -

44
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
Reports of three oil seeps near Allakaket on the Koyukuk River are 
regarded as doubtful because the reports were based on observations 
"made by a prospector many years ago, and seeps have not been seen 
by, or reported to, geologists who have recently been in Allakaket" 
(Miller and others, 1959, p. 72).

Nenana basin and vicinity-

45
Well with gas show(s)
The Union Oil Co. of California Nenana Well No. 1 was drilled in 1962 
to a total depth of 3,062 ft (933 m) and abandoned as a dry hole. The 
mudlog indicates minor amounts of gas associated with coal-bearing 
strata below about 2,050 ft (625 m). No drill stem tests were 
conducted, and there were no reported shows of oil.

46
Well with gas show(s)
The ARCO Totek Hills Well No. 1 was drilled in 1984 to a total depth 
of 3,590 ft (1,094 m) and abandoned as a dry hole. The mudlog depicts 
numerous indications of gas, many of which appear to be associated 
with coal-bearing intervals, but no indications of oil.

47
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
Oil seeps reportedly located near the mouth of the Nenana River are 
considered to be doubtful (Miller and others, 1959, p. 86, plate 1).

48
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
An oil seep along Totatlanika River (formerly Totatlanika Creek) was 
reportedly observed during the early 1920's, and a hole that did not 
strike oil was drilled to a depth of 40 ft (12 m) where it bottomed 
in sandstone. A sample of oily sand and gravel from the seep was 
submitted to a chemist and yielded about 5 oz of oil consisting of 
88.5 weight percent "illuminating oil" (Miller and others (1959, p. 
86). This analysis is consistent with kerosene, which may have been 
accidentally spilled or otherwise introduced into the sample.

49
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep along California Creek, about 12-13 miles (19-21 
km) east of Ferry, is regarded as doubtful on the basis of field 
investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 
1959, plate 1).

50
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep in the Nenana coal field along Healy Creek, about 
7-8 miles (11-13 km) east of Healy, was the subject of detailed field 
and laboratory investigations and found to be a natural coal tar 
produced by distillation from burning coal beds (Martin, 1923, p. 
137-147; Miller and others, 1959, p. 61, plate 1).

51
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
A reported oil seep in the Nenana coal field about 15-20 miles (25-30 
km) northeast of Healy is regarded as doubtful on the basis of field 
investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 
1959, p. 61, plate 1).

52
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
Reports of oil-saturated tundra tussocks at a trail crossing along 
the Wood River, about 35 miles (55 km) south of Fairbanks, were 
investigated in 1954 by U.S. Geological Survey geologists who found 
iron-oxide scum on pond surfaces but no indications of oil (Miller 
and others, 1959, p. 86).

53
Oil seep, reported but doubtful or disproved
An oil seep was reported near the head of Clear Creek, about 25-30 
miles (40-50 km) south of Fairbanks, but its existence is regarded as 
doubtful (Miller and others, 1959, p. 86, plate 1).

54
Well with gas show(s)
Numerous water wells and test holes in unconsolidated alluvium in the 
Fairbanks area have encountered marsh gas (Miller and others, 1959, 
p. 86).

55
Well with no oil or gas shows
In 1965, a well near Eielson Air Force Base was drilled to a total 
depth of 9,774 ft (2,979 m) for military purposes. The well began in 
schist of the Yukon-Tanana Upland and remained entirely in schist and 
amphibolite to total depth (Bunker and others, 1973; Forbes and 
Weber, 1975; Turner and Forbes, 1976; Naeser and Forbes, 1976; 
Dusel-Bacon and Murphy, 2001).

Yukon Flats basin and vicinity-

56
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Small amounts of oil shale occur as chips and slabs in soil and float 
on a hill east of the Christian River, about 27 miles (43 km) north 
of Christian Village. Samples of the oil shale yielded 60-144 gallons 
of oil per ton of rock; the oil was described as green in color with 
an API gravity of 31.1-33.4 degrees (Mertie, 1929, p. 138-139; 
Mertie, 1930, p. 132; Ebbley, 1944; Miller and others, 1959, p. 56; 
Tailleur and others, 1967; Hawley and Garcia, 1976; Native Village of 
Venetie, 1981; Brosgé and Reiser, 2000). Pieces of the oil shale were 
formerly burned as campfire fuel by local people of the area formerly 
known as the Venetie Indian Reservation, but most of the oil shale is 
now gone (Ebbley, 1944; Hawley and Garcia, 1976; Brosgé and Reiser, 
2000). Petrographic analysis revealed that the oil shale is 
tasmanite, a rock composed largely of the marine alga Tasmanites 
(Tailleur and others, 1967; Morgridge, 1995a, b; Brosgé and Reiser, 
2000). The oil shale resembles "tough, dark, leathery wood" and is 
light in weight, weathering to a gray color, with polished and 
slickensided surfaces (Ebbley, 1944, p. 12). No in-place outcrops of 
the oil shale are known, despite numerous attempts to find them, 
including hand trenching, bulldozer excavations, and shallow auger 
drilling (Baggs and Blasko, 1979). Some oil industry geologists 
speculate that the oil shale occurs as small, isolated pods that are 
sparsely distributed rather than as a single, laterally persistent 
stratigraphic horizon (Baggs and Blasko, 1979). The oil shale is 
thought to be of Triassic or Permian age and is associated with 
igneous and sedimentary rocks of the Tozitna terrane (Brosgé and 
Reiser, 2000).

57
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
The location of an oil seep along the Christian River is variously 
reported as either (a) about 4 miles (6 km) east of Brown Grass Lake 
at the junction of the Christian River and a large unnamed 
south-southeast-flowing creek (F.R. Weber, W.P. Brosgé, and I.L. 
Tailleur, written communs., 1960-1967), or (b) close to "the bend of 
the Christian River near the south endline of T32N" (Native Village 
of Venetie, 1981). However, neither the location nor the existence of 
the seep have been confirmed by field investigations (Hawley and 
Garcia, 1976, p. 4-2). The reported seep may have been along a fault 
that separates Jurassic to Mississippian volcanic rocks of the 
Tozitna terrane from Devonian sedimentary rocks (Brosgé and others, 
2000).

58
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
In an area west of the Christian River about 17 miles (27 km) 
northwest of Christian village, oil shale (said to be tasmanite) was 
found in ground squirrel diggings near the head of Kocacho Creek and 
is associated with outcrops of chert and mafic volcanic rocks (Hawley 
and Garcia, 1976; Brosgé and Reiser, 2000, p. 6).

59
Well with gas show(s)
In 1994, the U.S. Geological Survey drilled a stratigraphic core hole 
at Fort Yukon to a total depth of 1,281 ft (390 m). Gas, of unknown 
composition but widely presumed to be methane, was observed bubbling 
from cores taken from lignite-bearing middle Miocene strata in the 
bottom 22-28 ft (7-9 m) of the hole (Ager, 1994; T.A. Ager, written 
commun., 2000). Nearby, Fort Yukon Water Well No. 2 was drilled in 
1954 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to a total depth of 440 ft 
(134 m) in Pleistocene or late Tertiary lacustrine(?) silt and silty 
sand; no indications of oil or gas were reported from this well 
(Williams, 1962, p. 303).

60
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
A reported oil seep along the Coleen River has not been investigated 
by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and others, 1959, plate 1).

61
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
A reported oil seep along the Porcupine River near Old Rampart has 
not been investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey (Miller and 
others, 1959, plate 1).

62
Oil seep, reported but unconfirmed
An oil seep near the north bank of the Porcupine River, about 300 ft 
(90 m) below Deacons Rock, was reportedly found during the late 
1960's by an oil company field party. The seep was said to issue from 
the bottom of the river and to be most noticeable at low water levels 
in the fall months prior to freeze-up. The seep apparently is located 
near outcrops of Paleozoic(?) limestone and dolomite in which bedding 
dips about 15 degrees south. The seep was described as "a thread of 
dirty brown bubbles, foam, and froth, and coherent ribbons of brown 
material streaming downstream from the source area." At least two 
subsequent oil industry field parties were unable to verify the 
presence of this seep (Morgridge, 1995a, b).

Kandik region-

63
Well with no oil or gas shows
The Louisiana Land and Exploration Co. Doyon Ltd. Well No. 3 was 
drilled in 1977 to a total depth of 13,533 ft (4,125 m) and abandoned 
as a dry hole. Numerous occurrences of solid bitumen were reported 
from Paleozoic limestone and dolomite at 2,690-11,100 ft (820-3,383 
m). No shows of oil or gas were reported, but the mudlog shows a 
possible trace amount of methane at 2,330-2,340 ft (710-713 m) that 
may be a contaminant or an artifact related to resumption of drilling 
after casing was set to just above this depth.

64
Well with no oil or gas shows
The Louisiana Land and Exploration Co. Doyon Ltd. Well No. 2 was 
drilled in 1977 to a total depth 9,123 ft (2,781 m) and abandoned as 
a dry hole. Occurrences of solid bitumen were reported from Paleozoic 
dolomite at depths of 6,875 ft (2,096 m) and 7,400-7,610 ft 
(2,256-2,320 m). No shows of oil or gas were reported but trace 
amounts of methane appear at certain intervals on the mudlog, most 
notably at depths of 3,280-3,290 ft, 3,500-3,510 ft, 3,780-3790 ft, 
4,740-4,770 ft, 5,780-5,880 ft, and 6,530-6,540 ft. The gas at 
5,780-5,880 ft was labeled by the mudlogger as "methane possibly from 
makeup water," suggesting that the methane was a contaminant in water 
that was used to mix the drilling mud.

65
Well with no oil or gas shows
The Louisiana Land and Exploration Co. Doyon Ltd. Well No. 1 was 
drilled in 1976 to a total depth of 11,044 ft (3,366 m) and abandoned 
as a dry hole. No shows of oil or gas were reported, but "small black 
particles of dead oil" were encountered at depths of about 1,450 ft 
(442 m) and a questionable occurrence of solid bitumen was noted at 
about 10,900 ft (3,322 m). The mudlog shows evidence for trace 
amounts of methane at numerous intervals within the well, including 
1,270-1,280 ft, 1,440-1,460 ft, 2,290-2,300 ft, 4,690-4,720 ft, 
4,950-4,960 ft, 7,170-7,180 ft, 7,220-7,230 ft, 9,440-9,450 ft, and 
9,900-9,980 ft. The origin of this gas is uncertain. The methane may 
have been a contaminant in water used for drilling, as suggested for 
the Doyon No. 2 well; alternatively, the methane may be indigenous to 
the Mesozoic shale, siltstone, and quartzite that were penetrated by 
the No. 1 well.

66
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Solid, brittle, vitreous bitumen reportedly occurs as a fracture 
filling in the Cretaceous Keenan Quartzite(?) (Watts, 1992).

67
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
"Oil droplets" were reportedly found in a rock sample from the 
Devonian Nation River Formation (Van Kooten and others, 1997).

68
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Upper Triassic oil shale is exposed along the Yukon River near the 
mouth of the Nation River (Mertie, 1930, p. 130-131; Mertie, 1937, p. 
153-154; Miller and others, 1959, p. 56, 64). Fifteen samples of oil 
shale from along the west bank of the Yukon River, opposite the mouth 
of the Nation River, were analyzed and found to contain 1.7 to 12.3 
gallons of oil per ton of shale, averaging about 4 gallons per ton 
(Churkin and Brabb, 1969, p. 9).

69
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Upper Triassic oil shale is exposed along Trout Creek near the Yukon 
River (Mertie, 1930, p. 131-132; Miller and others, 1959, p. 56, 64). 
A distillation test on a sample from this locality indicated about 28 
gallons of crude oil per ton of shale (Mertie, 1930, p. 132; Mertie, 
1937, p. 263-264). This result led to an estimate of about 2 million 
barrels of oil-equivalent in near-surface deposits that could be 
mined, and a further estimate of about 200 billion barrels of 
oil-equivalent in presumed subsurface extensions of similar-grade 
deposits (Duncan and Swanson, 1965, p. 14). Subsequent work, however, 
demonstrated that these estimates were too high; eight additional 
analyses of oil shale from the Trout Creek locality ranged from 0.3 
to 7.6 gallons of oil per ton of shale and averaged about 4.8 gallons 
per ton, and geologic mapping showed that the lateral extent of the 
oil shale deposits was much less than previously believed (Churkin 
and Brabb, 1969, p. 9).

70
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Solid(?) bitumen reportedly fills vugs in stained limestone, and 
occurs as veins up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) long in the Triassic Glenn 
Shale (unpublished oil industry data).

71
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Blebs of bitumen reportedly occur in the Triassic Glenn Shale (Watts, 1992).

72
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Solid bitumen reportedly occurs in coarse calcite veins and vugs in 
the Permian Tahkandit Limestone (Watts, 1992).

73
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Solid, brittle, vitreous bitumen reportedly occurs as a fracture 
filling in Precambrian rocks (Watts, 1992).

74
Outcrop of oil shale or oil-bearing rock
Strongly petroliferous limestone with bitumen blebs reportedly occurs 
in Precambrian rocks and is associated with gas bubbles in a nearby 
streambed (unpublished oil industry data).

Northway lowlands-

75
Well with gas show(s)
Gas was found in unconsolidated Quaternary deposits in a well drilled 
to total depth of about 350 ft (107 m) by the Alaska Propane Co., 
Inc., in the Northway lowlands (Miller and others, 1959, p. 86-87). 
The gas was found at depths of 195-220 ft (59-67 m), and the bottom 
of permafrost was found at depths of about 250 ft (76 m).

76
Well with gas show(s)
Gas, presumably trapped beneath permafrost, was found in 
unconsolidated Quaternary deposits in a well drilled for water at a 
spot on the Alaska Highway known as Seaton's Service Station or 
Seaton's Roadhouse. The gas, mostly methane, was found at a depth of 
about 200 ft (60 m) and is thought to have been trapped by permafrost 
(Miller and others, 1959, p. 86-87; Kirschner, 1988).