OIL IN ALASKA Aim: To find out the lengths that companies will go to exploit precious energy supplies and the associated environmental impacts.

 1962 Oil Discovered in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

 The Arctic Ocean freezes each winter.  Alaska has lots of earthquakes.  Caribou migrate across Alaska.  Extreme Cold. Often below -40 C.  Oil is a long way from oil markets.  Large wilderness areas.  Lack of workers and very harsh living conditions.  Permafrost (frozen ground) is very fragile  Permafrost (frozen ground) is very fragile. Problems for Alaska

Solution! Build a pipeline.

Solving the Problems  Pipeline placed 3 metres above ground. Breaks easier to detect and mend.  Pipeline Insulated.  Oil Pumped at 80 degrees C.  Sliding shoes to allow for earthquakes.  Pipeline buried to allow Caribou to migrate. Ground refrigerated to reduce effect on permafrost.

GCSE Geography – Managing Resources Oil in Alaska – Human Engineering Feats Oil is a precious commodity and the companies that exploit this non-renewable resource will go to great lengths to gain access to oil, no matter where it is located on earth. Oil exploration projects are carried out on an annual basis and the increasing use of technology has meant that there is no place on earth that can’t now be accessed. Task 1 – Read case study 7, page 98&99 – Energy and the Environment – Oil in Alaska. Wider World. On a new page in your book, enter a title and draw a sketch map showing the location of Alaska as well as a brief history of this particular project. Task 2 - Diagram B shows some of the problems and concerns that had to be overcome in order to construct this pipeline. Sketch the ‘close up’ map of the area of Alaska that the pipeline traverses including all of the features that hindered the oil companies in their development proposals. Task 3 – What is permafrost? Task 4 – What types of organisations would have taken a keen interest in this particular development? What are the main oil companies that you know of? Answer on case sheet provided. Task 5 – With the aid of diagrams, explain what design modifications have been made in order to combat some of the problems and concerns that are particular to this region.