The U.S. BLM’s March 18 lease sale in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve generated a record $163 million from 625 tracts over 5.5 million acres with Shell among top bidders. Alaska’s output, currently 420–430k barrels per day, is expected to rise to 477k bpd in 2026, enhancing domestic supply.
Shell participated in the BLM’s March 18, 2026 lease sale in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve, joining Exxon, ConocoPhillips and others in placing record-high bids. The sale offered 625 tracts across about 5.5 million acres, generating $163 million and signaling strong industry confidence in Arctic frontier development.
Domestic production in the NPR-A currently averages 420,000 to 430,000 barrels per day, with new projects expected to boost output to around 477,000 bpd in 2026. Shell’s involvement positions it to capture a share of this incremental volume, diversifying its portfolio beyond established basins.
While Alaskan output remains lower than the Permian Basin’s 6.5 million bpd, the additional supply strengthens U.S. energy security and complements existing production hubs. Industry executives view this expansion as enhancing the national energy mix and supporting growing consumption demands.
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