Alaska's North Slope Holds an Estimated 96 Trillion Cubic Feet of Undiscovered Gas. Now Build the Way to Bring It Home
On Oct. 21, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated 96 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas on Alaska's North Slope, nearly three times proven reserves. In our view, the science backs President Trump's push to unlock Alaska, and the next test is infrastructure.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 22, 2026 | 6-min read America does not have an energy shortage problem. It has a delivery problem. On Wednesday the U.S. Geological Survey put a new number on the table: 96 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable natural gas that has not yet been discovered on Alaska's North Slope [1][2]. In our view, that number is a gift to American energy security, and it should push Washington and Juneau to answer the question that has stalled Alaska gas for decades: how do we get it to the people who need it? Key Takeaways The USGS estimates a mean of 96 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional gas in the Northern Alaska Province, which includes the North Slope [2]. That is nearly three times the roughly 35 TCF of proven gas reserves already found there [1]. The estimate spans 21 assessment units, with a statistical range from about 17 TCF to about 277 TCF [2]. As of 2026, the USGS says, there is no method for bringing North Slope gas to market at large commercial scale, and most gas produced with oil is pumped back underground [2]. The assessment is not a production forecast and does not estimate profitability [3][4]. Put simply, the