Norton Basin of Alaska

As indicated by geophysical data, exposed strata characteristics, and local gas seeps, Alaska's Norton basin offers a good target for hydrocarbon exploration, according to the US Geological Survey. Gas-prone Cretaceous deltaic and Tertiary strata around the basin suggest that the nonmarine and deltaic strata within the basin are also gas-prone. Appraisals show that at 5% probability, 2.2 billion bbl of oil and 2.8 trillion CF of gas may be present; at 85% probability, none. The statistical mean of the appraisal is 0.54 billion bbl and 0.85 TCF.