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ExxonMobil in Alaska: RDC salutes ExxonMobil for its first 90 years in Alaska
Tom Maloney RDC president
The Resource Development Council salutes ExxonMobil for 90 years of leadership in Alaska’s resource industry. ExxonMobil has been a very active RDC participant for more than 35 years. RDC is guided by the Mission Statement of Growing Alaska through Responsible Resource Development to:
• Promote sound resource development in Alaska;
• Link diverse interests on resource issues;
• Sustain and expand a diverse membership; and
• Educate the public, policymakers, and students on resource issues.
Outstanding contributions In the past several years, I have seen the outstanding community-based and technical contributions of ExxonMobil personnel led by Alaska production managers including Jim Branch, Jack Williams, Richard Owen, Craig Haymes and Dale Pittman.
You can count on ExxonMobil attending and sponsoring remote fly-ins to learn more about resource issues — from fishing in Dutch Harbor to tourism in Skagway, from forestry in Southeast Alaska to mining in the Interior.
ExxonMobil has been a leader in promoting resource education throughout Alaska. For example, my son and many other Alaskan youths have used AMEREF education kits on multiple school projects.
My work involvement with ExxonMobil began in early 1977. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, TAPS, started operations several months later. Exxon’s Ed Patton was the first CEO of Alyeska Pipeline. I remember Ed and other leaders predicting tremendous long-term success for Alaska, based on its resource wealth.
It is amazing that TAPS has carried more than 16 billion barrels of oil to date. Ed and other visionaries conquered formidable technical, financial and other challenges. We look forward to TAPS carrying many more billions of barrels for decades to come.
Largest owner of Prudhoe Although ExxonMobil has not operated an active North Slope field, it is the largest owner of Prudhoe Bay, a 36.4 percent interest. RDC wishes ExxonMobil great success with its Point Thomson field and other large gas and oil prospects. Alaska desperately needs the jobs, investment, and economic benefits that ExxonMobil and other investors bring to the state.
In 1968, Exxon and its partners discovered the Prudhoe Bay field. In 9 years, the largest oilfield and pipeline projects in North America’s history were built. Since then, ExxonMobil and others have invested tens of billions of dollars to upgrade facilities, expand gas handling, drill new wells, create jobs and contribute to communities. Oil companies like ExxonMobil have paid more than $108 billion in state royalties and taxes over the past 30 years. The $39 billion Permanent Fund and our individual dividends come from our oil wealth. The companies that take 100 percent of the risk to lease, develop, and operate oil facilities are private investors like ExxonMobil.
ExxonMobil has helped to create new industries in Alaska. All the original Prudhoe Bay modules were engineered and built outside Alaska — today, many Alaska firms in multiple locations are involved in modular engineering and construction, providing some of the highest-paid technical jobs in the state.
Great corporate citizen ExxonMobil is a committed supporter of opportunities for Alaskans. For example, its major sponsorship of the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program has benefited youth across the state. Such programs boost the success of Native youth — from middle school through attainment of a Ph.D. Many Alaska employers have benefited by hiring these talented young technical minds.
Alaskans love dog sledding and ExxonMobil is a leading sponsor of sled dog races. The company’s Iditarod sponsorship has fostered enthusiasm for the sport worldwide. Teachers incorporate the Iditarod in lesson plans, developing skills such as statistical analysis.
Another 90 years-plus RDC envisions major ExxonMobil involvement in Alaska for the next 90-plus years. RDC wants private investors, along with state and federal agencies, to work closely like a sled dog team. After all, it took two dozen mushers and months to bring a serum to Nome to save a community from diphtheria. Alaskans need to work together to stem our steep decline in oil production and create a new gas industry to benefit our collective future.
ExxonMobil takes on some of the world’s toughest energy challenges. We need investors to keep liquids in pipelines. Our economic lifeline — TAPS — is running 70 percent below throughput of 20 years ago. RDC and its many member companies in mining, tourism, oil and gas, fishing, and forestry sincerely appreciate ExxonMobil’s support.
On behalf of all RDC members, thank you, ExxonMobil.
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