Yukon Flats Oil and Gas Exploration Update and History
Doyon and Hilcorp Alaska (Hilcorp) signed an agreement in early 2019 for oil and gas exploration on Doyon lands, including 1.6 million acres of land near Birch Creek, Beaver, Fort Yukon, and Stevens Village.
Hilcorp conducted an initial airborne survey in the Yukon Flats subregion starting in May 2020 and ending in June 2020 to determine the viability of future oil exploration near Birch Creek, Fort Yukon, Beaver, and Stevens Village.
Doyon has conducted oil and gas exploration in the Minto-Nenana Basin from 2010 to 2018, and in the Yukon Flats Basin since 1974. In some cases, Doyon has pursued exploration as the operator, facilitating all activities; in other cases, Doyon acted as a partner, in which the partners led exploration efforts.
Doyon’s interest in oil and gas potential in the subregion was highlighted beginning with the selection of Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) lands. In 1974, only two years after its incorporation, Doyon signed a series of land selection agreements among Beaver, Fort Yukon, Chalkyitsik, Circle, and Birch Creek village corporations in order to maximize Native-owned lands selections.
These agreements resulted in 400,000 extra acres of ANCSA lands in the Yukon Flats. These agreements were signed for potential oil and gas opportunities, and to provide additional Native land for traditional activities. These are an additional 400,000 acres that could have been evenly distributed near each of the 34 villages of the Region but were instead allocated to the Yukon Flats area to enhance the future opportunity for all shareholders.
For more information, contact the Doyon Lands and Natural Resources Department at 907-459-2030 or lands@doyon.com.