Editing Alpine, Alaska

{{Short description| Unincorporated community in the state of Alaska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Alpine, Alaska
| settlement_type          = Former [[Census-designated place]] (CDP)
| nickname                 =
| motto                    =
| <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Part of the Alpine Oil Field. North Slope, Alaska (9840005175).jpg
| imagesize                = 300px
| image_caption            = Part of the Alpine Oil Field
| image_flag               =
| image_seal               =
| <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                =
| mapsize                  =
| map_caption              =
| image_map1               =
| mapsize1                 =
| map_caption1             =
| pushpin_map              = Alaska
| pushpin_label_position   = left <!-- position of pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the state of Alaska
| pushpin_mapsize          =
| <!-- Coordinates -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|70|19|41|N|150|58|39|W|region:US-AK|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
| <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Alaska]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Borough]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[North Slope Borough, Alaska|North Slope]]
| <!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     =
| government_type          =
|leader_title             = Borough [[mayor]]
|leader_name              = Harry K. Brower, Jr.
|leader_title1            = [[Alaska Senate|State senator]]
|leader_name1             = [[Donny Olson]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|leader_title2            = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
|leader_name2             = [[Robyn Burke]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| established_title        =
| established_date         =
| <!-- Area -->
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="2000 Census"/>
| area_total_sq_mi         = 39.2
| area_land_sq_mi          = 38.3
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.9
| area_total_km2           = 101.5
| area_land_km2            = 99.1
| area_water_km2           = 2.4
| <!-- Elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS">{{Cite GNIS|1865544|Alpine}}</ref>
| elevation_ft             = 13
| elevation_m              = 4
| <!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2000 United States census|2000]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="2000 Census"/>
| population_total         = 250 (workers)
| <!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
| utc_offset               = -9
| timezone_DST             = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -8
| postal_code_type         =
| postal_code              =
| area_code                = [[Area code 907|907]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 02-01882
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = {{GNIS4|1865544}}
| website                  =
| footnotes                =
}}

'''Alpine''' is an [[unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] and former [[census-designated place]] in the [[North Slope Borough, Alaska|North Slope Borough]] of [[Alaska]] within the [[ National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska]] on native lands. The population was 0 at the [[2000 United States census]],<ref name="2000 Census">{{cite web
 |url          = https://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/places2k.txt
 |title        = Places (2000)
 |format       = [[Text file|TXT]]
 |work         = [2000 Census Gazetteer Files]
 |publisher    = [[United States Census Bureau]]
 |access-date   = January 25, 2013
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20021217013043/http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/places2k.txt
 |archive-date = December 17, 2002
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref> but it was not included in the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref>
 {{cite web
 | url = https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/2010_place_list_02.txt
 | title = Places (2010): Alaska
 | format = [[Text file|TXT]]
 | work = [2010 Census Gazetteer Files]
 | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]
 | access-date = January 25, 2013
}}
</ref>

Alpine is the site of a major oil drilling operation by [[ConocoPhillips]], producing since 2000 with a peak in November 2005, further expansion in 2015 to build CD-5 and oil wells in Greater Mooses Tooth Unit 1 and 2. The infrastructure of Greater Mooses Tooth unit with pipelines, roads and mudplants to be used by the much larger [[Willow project]] located further West in the Bear Tooth Unit. Alpine is staffed primarily by commuter residents of [[Nuiqsut, Alaska|Nuiqsut]] working a two-week on and two week off work schedule.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

==Geography==
Alpine is located at {{coord|70.2382|-150.9944|type:city_region:US-AK|format=dms|display=inline}}.<ref name="2000 Census"/> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{cvt|39.2|mi2}}, of which {{cvt|38.3|mi2}} is land and {{cvt|0.9|mi2}}, or 2.40%, is water.<ref name="2000 Census"/> It is located 8 miles north of [[Nuiqsut, Alaska]].

== Transportation ==
The area is served by the [[Alpine Airstrip]]. The closest commercial airport is at [[Deadhorse Airport|Deadhorse]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population|align=left
|2000= 0
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}
Alpine first appeared as a census-designated place (CDP) in 2000, but did not report any residents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-1-3.pdf |title=2000 Census of Population and Housing - Alaska |author=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318011024/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-1-3.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of the [[census]] of 2000<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were no permanent people living in the CDP, but approximately 250 workers in the work camp. Its status as a CDP was abolished as of the 2010 census.<ref>{{cite web |author1=U.S. Census Bureau |title=2010 Census of Population and Housing - Alaska |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-3.pdf |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224134536/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-3.pdf |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |date=June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Oil production==
Discovered in 1994 and declared commercial in 1996, the Alpine Oil Pool was the largest oil field discovered in the US in over a decade. Development drilling began in 1998, and nine facilities modules were delivered to the North Slope via [[sealift]] during July 1999. Regular production began in November 2000. 
The Alpine Oil Pool produced an average of 97,485 BOPD during 2003 and 98,895 BOPD in 2004. Major upgrades were undertaken in 2004 to the water handling capacity and in 2005 to the oil handling, seawater injection and gas handling capacity. These upgrades enabled the production to peak at {{convert|130687|oilbbl|m3}} in November 2005. Since that peak, production from the pool has declined, despite continued development drilling operations and stood at an average of {{convert|44126|oilbbl|m3}} during first six months of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aogweb.state.ak.us/PoolStatistics/Pool/Overview?poolNo=120100|title = Pool Statistics - Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.petroleumnews.com/pntruncate/404071573.shtml|title = Alpine clocks 20 years - December 06, 2020 - Petroleum News}}</ref>

In June 2023, Alaska regulators proposed that Conoco Philips receive a 914,000$ penalty for its handling of a “shallow underground blowout” of a well in 2022, as gas was released uncontrollably at the surface for days across various locations.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Alex |last=DeMarban |date=June 28, 2023 |title=Alaska regulators propose $914,000 fine against ConocoPhillips for North Slope gas blowout and leak |language=en |url=https://www.adn.com/business-economy/energy/2023/06/28/alaska-regulators-propose-914000-fine-against-conocophillips-for-north-slope-gas-leak/ |access-date=June 30, 2023}}</ref>

===CD-5===
In the fourth quarter of 2015, oil production from a new "CD-5" drill on-pad site began, located to access both the Nanuq [[Kuparuk River Oil Field|Kuparuk]] and the Alpine participating areas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Resource Development |url=https://www.asrc.com/operations/resource-development/ |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=www.asrc.com}}</ref> It is part of the Colville River Unit, operated by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. (78%) and a subsidiary of [[Anadarko Petroleum Corporation]] (22%). The CD-5 site became the first commercial oil development on Alaska Native lands within the boundaries of the [[ National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska]] on land owned by "Kuukpik Corporation", the village corporation for [[Nuiqsut]], with subsurface rights owned by [[Arctic Slope Regional Corporation]]. The CD-5 project has 33 wells, includes a 6 mile road, four bridges, 32 miles of pipelines and electrical infrastructure and cost more than $1 billion. Oil from CD-5 is processed in Alpine, then flows through [[Kuparuk River Oil Field|Kuparuk]] to the [[Trans-Alaska Pipeline System]].<ref name="conoco">{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=ConocoPhillips Alaska to Add Wells to CD5 Drill Site |url=https://static.conocophillips.com/files/resources/nr-ak-cd5-expansion-apr-2016final.pdf |website=Conoco Phillips Alaska}}</ref> 
Alpine field production gradually increased,{{when|date=February 2023}} averaging 54,720 barrels per day in February, up from 53,007 barrels per day in January and 50,389 barrels per day year over year, from February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.frontiersman.com/news/new-oil-projects-on-slope-begin-to-lift-production/article_11dfdeda-9ea5-11ec-8eb9-bb8f1d38945b.html|title = New oil projects on slope begin to lift production| date=March 7, 2022 }}</ref>{{better source|date=March 2023}}
In 2016, ConocoPhillips planned more wells.<ref>{{Cite news |title=More wells planned for CD5 drill site in NPR-A |work=Oil and Gas Journal |url=https://www.ogj.com/drilling-production/article/17251104/more-wells-planned-for-cd5-drill-site-in-npra |access-date=February 6, 2023}}</ref>

===Greater Mooses Tooth Unit 1 and 2===
In 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) permitted this satellite project in Greater Mooses Tooth area, west of the [[Colville River (Alaska)|Colville River]] delta, also on lands owned by Kuukpik Corporation. In 2017, two bridges were constructed, one to carry a drilling ridge, the other to carry drill rig module. First oil was expected in late 2018.<ref name="GMT">{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=Greater Mooses Tooth Unit Development Project, Alaska - Hydrocarbons Technology |url=https://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/greater-mooses-project-alaska/ |access-date=March 14, 2023 |website=www.hydrocarbons-technology.com}}</ref>

The Greater Mooses Tooth unit 2 was planned for 48 wells, cost to exceed $1 billion with first oil expected between late-2020 and 2021.<ref name="GMT"/>

The infrastructure of Greater Mooses Tooth unit is to be used by the much larger [[Willow project]] located further West in the Bear Tooth Unit.
<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2023 |title=Willow Master Development Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement |url=https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/109410/510 |access-date=March 14, 2023 |website=eplanning.blm.gov}}</ref>

==Climate==

{{Weather box
|location = Alpine, Alaska, 1991&ndash;2020 normals
|single line = Y

|Jan high F = -9.9
|Feb high F = -9.1
|Mar high F = -4.3
|Apr high F = 11.6
|May high F = 30.5
|Jun high F = 47.6
|Jul high F = 56.0
|Aug high F = 50.8
|Sep high F = 39.8
|Oct high F = 25.9
|Nov high F = 9.0
|Dec high F = -3.0
|year high F = 

|Jan mean F = -15.9
|Feb mean F = -15.1
|Mar mean F = -11.9
|Apr mean F = 4.6
|May mean F = 25.5
|Jun mean F = 40.9
|Jul mean F = 49.4
|Aug mean F = 44.7
|Sep mean F = 35.8
|Oct mean F = 21.6
|Nov mean F = 2.1
|Dec mean F = -8.6
|year mean F = 

|Jan low F = -22.0
|Feb low F = -21.2
|Mar low F = -19.5
|Apr low F = -2.3
|May low F = 20.5
|Jun low F = 34.2
|Jul low F = 42.8
|Aug low F = 38.5
|Sep low F = 31.7
|Oct low F = 17.3
|Nov low F = -4.9
|Dec low F = -14.3
|year low F = 

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.34
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.51
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.38
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.40
|May precipitation inch = 0.21
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.78
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.40
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.37
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.79
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.84
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.53
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.57
|year precipitation inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url =https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00500235&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = July 22, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Alaska|Energy}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20171230020204/https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/dcra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/d36fd3e8-ddea-4f2d-8a3e-0582d7fd6453 Alpine] at the Community Database Online from the [[Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development|Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs]]
* Maps from the [[Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20100306050227/http://labor.alaska.gov/research/alari/images/maps/4_18_12map.pdf 2000]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517094052/http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0605/feature1/ National Geographic visits Alaska's North Slope]

{{North Slope Borough, Alaska}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Former census-designated places in Alaska]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Arctic Ocean]]
[[Category:Populated places of the Arctic United States]]
[[Category:Road-inaccessible communities of Alaska]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in North Slope Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:Environmental controversies]]
[[Category:Environmental impact of the petroleum industry]]
[[Category:Environment of Alaska]]
[[Category:Geography of North Slope Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:Industry in the Arctic]]
[[Category:Native American history of Alaska]]
[[Category:Oil fields in Alaska]]
[[Category:Petroleum in Alaska]]
[[Category:Environmental racism in the United States]]