Performance Details

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development - Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

• Return to Departments
• Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development website

Mission

To protect the public interest in exploration and development of Alaska's valuable oil, gas, and geothermal resources through the application of conservation practices designed to ensure greater ultimate recovery and the protection of health, safety, fresh ground waters and the rights of all owners to recover their share of the resource.

Core Services

• Ensure safety of well drilling and control equipment.
• Ensure greater ultimate recovery.
• Minimize waste due to unnecessary flaring and venting of produced gas.
• Expeditiously adjudicate all permit applications while ensuring compliance with regulations, statutes, orders and other Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) directives.
• Protect Alaska"s underground fresh water.

Mission Results

Core Services

A: Ensure safe, efficient recovery of Alaska resources, prevent physical waste, timely review of applications, prevent contamination of underground fresh water, and have no lost-time accidents. Details >

A1: Ensure safety of well drilling and control equipment. Details > TARGET #1: Witness at least 50% of well safety equipment tests (blowout prevention equipment (BOPE), Safety Valve System (SVS), Mechanical Integrity Test (MIT)). A2: Ensure greater ultimate recovery. Details > TARGET #1: Evaluate development and depletion of 20% of Alaska"s oil and gas pools, and every pool at least once every five years. A3: Minimize waste due to unnecessary flaring and venting of produced gas. Details > TARGET #1: Less than 0.5% loss of total gas production through flaring and venting. A4: Expeditiously adjudicate all permit applications while ensuring compliance with regulations, statutes, orders and other Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) directives. Details > TARGET #1: Comprehensively review and adjudicate drilling permit applications in less than 10 working days. A5: Protect Alaska"s underground fresh water. Details > TARGET #1: Zero incidents that result in contamination of underground fresh water due to oil and gas activities.

Performance Detail

Target #1: Witness at least 50% of well safety equipment tests (blowout prevention equipment (BOPE), Safety Valve System (SVS), Mechanical Integrity Test (MIT)). Percent of Tests Witnessed Fiscal Year % of Tests Witness Goal FY 2024 53% 50% FY 2023 51% 50% FY 2022 46% 50% FY 2021 51% 50% FY 2020 52% 50% FY 2019 47% 50% FY 2018 59% 50% FY 2017 51% 50% FY 2016 48% 50% FY 2015 36% 50% Analysis of results and challenges: To ensure that well safety equipment is adequate and in good working order, regular inspections and tests of equipment performance are conducted. The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) has eight inspectors, too few to witness every test. A decade of inspection data shows that a realistic goal of 50% is achievable with eight inspectors. Travel logistics, distances, and the diverse field inspection responsibilities preclude witnessing more tests at current staffing levels. The AOGCC uses a risk-based data system to prioritize inspections to ensure well safety equipment meets AOGCC regulatory requirements and is suitable for the working environment. Review of all well safety equipment tests and comparison to AOGCC witnessed tests ensures the accurate representation of equipment performance. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2024

Target #1: Evaluate development and depletion of 20% of Alaska"s oil and gas pools, and every pool at least once every five years. Percent of Oil & Gas Pools Evaluated Fiscal Year % of Pools Evaluated Goal FY 2024 25% 20% FY 2023 22% 20% FY 2022 25% 20% FY 2021 23% 20% FY 2020 30% 20% FY 2019 25% 20% FY 2018 20% 20% FY 2017 27% 20% FY 2016 30% 20% FY 2015 25% 20% Analysis of results and challenges: The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission`s (AOGCC) reservoir engineer evaluates many oil and gas pools each year to ensure that operating companies are maximizing resource recovery. During FY2024, AOGCC exceeded the goal of 20%. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2024

Target #1: Less than 0.5% loss of total gas production through flaring and venting. Percent of Gas Lost Through Flaring and Venting Fiscal Year % Gas Lost Goal FY 2024 .29% .50% FY 2023 .26% .50% FY 2022 .29% .50% FY 2021 .17% .50% FY 2020 .20% .50% FY 2019 .27% .50% FY 2018 .23% .50% FY 2017 .20% .50% FY 2016 .24% .50% FY 2015 .20% .50% Analysis of results and challenges: Unnecessary flaring and venting of produced gas wastes state hydrocarbon resources. The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission reviews every flaring and venting event to ensure that it was needed for safety or maintaining operational efficiency. During FY2024, the percentage of gas lost was less than the goal of 0.5% lost. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2024

Target #1: Comprehensively review and adjudicate drilling permit applications in less than 10 working days. Percent Permits Adjudicated within 10 working days Fiscal Year % Permits Adjudicated Goal FY 2024 22% 75% FY 2023 41% 75% FY 2022 45% 75% FY 2021 49% 75% FY 2020 64% 75% FY 2019 54% 75% FY 2018 35% 75% FY 2017 46% 75% FY 2016 50% 75% FY 2015 52% 75% Analysis of results and challenges: The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission`s (AOGCC) overall performance decreased during FY2024 due to the loss of one of AOGCC`s two Senior Petroleum Geologists and the hiring and training of a replacement. Average processing time for the 153 approved applications was 20.7 working days. Target Last Modified: 11/15/2024

Target #1: Zero incidents that result in contamination of underground fresh water due to oil and gas activities. Incidents of Contaminated Underground Fresh Water (Zero Recorded Incidents) Fiscal Year Number of Incidents Goal FY 2023 0 0% 0 0% FY 2022 0 0% 0 0% FY 2021 0 0% 0 0% FY 2020 0 0% 0 0% FY 2019 0 0% 0 0% FY 2018 0 0% 0 0% FY 2017 0 0% 0 0% FY 2016 0 0% 0 0% FY 2015 0 0% 0 0% Analysis of results and challenges: There are no documented instances of underground freshwater contamination in Alaska. The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission`s increased scrutiny of applications and slightly larger field inspector staff will allow the agency to maintain that unblemished record. Target Last Modified: 05/30/2024

Last refreshed: 05/12/2025 12:00 pm