"We are excited to reach this significant milestone. With this project authorization, we've begun winter construction and Alaskans have started to receive the benefits from responsible energy development," said Ryan Lance, ConocoPhillips chairman and chief executive officer.

The Houston-based parent of ConocoPhillips Alaska said the FID approves the project and funds construction needed to reach first oil. This decision follows the U.S. Department of the Interior's March 2023 Record of Decision and recent positive court orders, including this week's 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denial of plaintiffs' request for an injunction.

According to Interior's Bureau of Land Management, the Willow project is projected to deliver $8 billion to $17 billion in new revenue for the federal government, the state of Alaska and Alaska Native communities. When completed, Willow is estimated to produce approximately 600 million barrels across the lifetime of the project.

Designed to support and coexist with subsistence activities on Alaska's North Slope, the Willow project underwent five years of rigorous regulatory and environmental review.

Willow will be built using materials primarily made and sourced in the U.S. and has the potential to create over 2,500 construction jobs and approximately 300 long-term jobs.

"We are grateful for the many supporters who advocated for Willow. Alaska Native communities and groups, especially those closest to the project on the North Slope, continually provided input that helped shape this project. We also appreciate the unwavering support from Alaska's bipartisan Congressional Delegation -- Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Representative Mary Peltola -- the state legislature and organized labor groups," Lance added.

"Our employees and the contractor community have dedicated years to designing a project that will provide reliable energy while adhering to the highest environmental standards," Lance said.

--KAY CASHMAN

See full story in the Jan. 7 issue of Petroleum News, available Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, at www.PetroleumNews.com