How attractive is Alaska for oil development?
Alaska is neither the most nor the least attractive for oil development; it is about in the middle of the pack. According to a recent study by Pedro Van Meurs, used by the state of Alaska, we ranked 148 out of 226 countries in terms of its attractiveness to investors. In this study, Alaska Onshore is ranked as more aggressive in its system of take* than Montana (75), Wyoming (80), Colorado (104), New Mexico (107), and California Onshore (114). Alaska and Texas rank about the same for Onshore development (Texas = 150). Alaska Offshore development is ranked 165 and Texas Offshore is ranked 164. Compared to Canada, Alaska’s system is more aggressive than Alberta’s system for oil sand (100) but less than Alberta third tier oil (168) or new oil (200). Yemen is ranked as the world’s most aggressive fiscal system while Ireland has the world’s least aggressive system of government take. *”Take” is what government gets when oil resources are developed and there is production, usually some combi
