The search for oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Alaska subregion of the Alaska leasing Region began in 1967, when geophysical surveys of the area were initiated. Three lease sales have been held in the subregion. Lease Sale 39, for the northern Gulf of Alaska, was held on April 13, 1976, and resulted in the leasing of 76 tracts. Lease Sale CI, for Lower Cook Inlet, was held on October 27, 1977, and resulted in the leasing of 87 tracts. Lease Sale 55, held on October 21, 1980, resulted in the leasing of 35 tracts in the eastern Gulf of Alaska. Exploratory drilling on the tracts leased in Sale 39 began in September 1976, and exploratory drilling on tracts leased in Sale CI began in July 1978. Drilling stopped on Lease Sale 39 tracts in July 1978 and on CI tracts in June 1980. No additional applications for permit to drill have been submitted for either area. Exploratory drilling is expected to begin on tracts leased in Sale 55 in the spring or summer of 1982.

Commercial amounts of hydrocarbons have not been found in any of the wells drilled in either the Sale 39 or Sale CI areas. As of February 1981, 75 of the 76 leases issued in the northern Gulf of Alaska have been relinquished, and 18 of the 87 CI leases have been relinquished. The next lease sale in the Gulf of Alaska, Sale RS-1 (a reoffering sale), is scheduled for late June 1981. Lease Sale 60 (Lower Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait) is scheduled for September 1981.

The most recent estimate by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) of risked, economically recoverable resources for the one tract currently under lease in the northern Gulf of Alaska is that they are negligible. For the 35 tracts currently under lease (plus two tracts offered but not leased) in the northeastern Gulf of Alaska, the USGS has estimated risked, economically recoverable resource estimates of 12.6 million barrels of oil and 45.4 billion cubic feet of gas.

Onshore impacts from OCS exploration in the Gulf of Alaska have been minimal. Two communities--Yakutat and Seward--served as support bases for past northern Gulf of Alaska exploration efforts. Kenai and Homer provided support for the exploratory drilling in Lower Cook Inlet. Yakutat will serve as the support base for Sale 55 exploration activities.