Alaska’s crude oil production peaked in 1988 at about 738 million barrels, which was equal to about 25% of total U.S. oil production. In 2008, it was about 250 million barrels, or about 14% of total U.S. production.

Since the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System from the North Slope of Alaska was finished 1977, about 96% of total Alaskan production has come from the North Slope. The rest comes from Southern Alaska.

Most Alaskan oil has gone to refineries in Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Washington. Relatively small amounts were shipped to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and foreign countries.

Export of oil transported in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was banned until 1996. Between 1996 and 2004, a total of about 95.49 million barrels of crude oil, equal to 2.7% of Alaskan production during that period, was exported to foreign countries. As of September 2009, no Alaskan oil has been exported since 2004.

Alaskan Oil Exports 1996 to 2004
Destination	Amount (in million barrels)
South Korea	46.15
Japan	24.51
China	16.52
Taiwan	8.31
Total Exports	95.49
Total Alaskan Production 1996 to 2004	3,549 million barrels

Data on crude oil production in Alaska
Data on the movement and shipment of Alaskan oil to the Lower 48 States

Yes. As shown in EIA’s International Energy Outlook 2009, the global supply of crude oil, other liquid hydrocarbons, and biofuels is expected to be adequate to meet the world’s demand for liquid fuels for at least the next 25 years. There is, of course, substantial uncertainty about the levels of future oil supply and demand, and EIA reflects some of this uncertainty by developing low and high oil price cases, in addition to a reference case. The oil resources currently remaining in the Earth’s crust, in combination with expected volumes of other liquid fuels, are estimated to be sufficient to meet total demand for liquid fuels in all three price cases of the IEO2009.

An often cited, although misleading, measurement of future resource availability is the reserves-to-production ratio, which given the current rate of consumption and total proved reserves is about 49 years. However, proved reserves are an accounting concept that is based on known projects and is not an appropriate measure for judging total resource availability in the long-term. Over time, numerous additional projects will be developed, which will add to global reserves. Furthermore, reserve estimates at known projects are likely to increase as new technologies are developed.

For more information:

• International Energy Annual includes EIA’s most recent forecast for world oil supply.
• Long-Term Global Oil Scenarios: Looking Beyond 2030 (PDF) contains an analysis of world oil supply under various supply and demand scenarios.
• International Petroleum Monthly contains most current data on oil production.
• International Energy Statistics Portal contains most current oil reserves estimates.