DOE awards up to $49.8 million for Alaska methane-hydrate research
A five-year contract will maintain a North Slope research site, with any follow-on production test dependent on a separate DOE option.
Event / data period: 2026-10-14
Published: · Updated:
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office announced on October 14 a five-year contract worth up to $49.8 million to ASRC Consulting and Environmental Services. The work will study methane hydrates and conduct production testing at a research site on Alaska’s North Slope.
The first phase will maintain the existing site and equipment and develop plans for a possible follow-on test. Only if DOE exercises its Phase 2 option would the contractor set up temporary facilities and attempt to produce methane from targeted hydrate-bearing sections. The department says the testing is intended to assess commercial-scale potential; the award itself does not establish commercial production or prove the resource can be produced economically.
Data
Contract value
Five-year research contract announced by DOE on October 14, 2026.
- Five-year contract ceiling
- ≤49.8 million USD
- 2026-10-14 · Target
Methodology
Maximum nominal contract value reported by the source, not an amount already spent. Phase 2 depends on DOE exercising its option.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- Energy and resourceSuggested
- Preserved editorial category/topic; broad candidate onlywww.energy.gov ↗
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- United States · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
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