"We have 56 million acres of wilderness," said Senator Frank H. Murkowski, an Alaska Republican and strong drilling proponent, who is chairman of the Senate's Energy and Natural Resource Committee.
Now, improved recovery technology, sharply higher natural gas prices and strong drilling results in a similar shale formation in north Texas are changing the calculus.
And its technical expertise has led to a very strong drilling track record.
Already super-strong drill bits are being produced by a company called Nanodyne.
First, it is a laboratory complete with funnels, test tubes, magnifiers, mass spectrometers, gas analyzers, ovens, and a sampling system with a drill strong enough to chisel away concrete.
These are strong enough to drill through, but their shape increases the risk of shattering porcelain and other brittle tiles.
Several Democrats in the race to replace him have already taken strong positions against drilling.
The Pacific coast, where there is strong objection to drilling from state governors and the public, would remain off-limits.
Strong safety Kenny Phillips drilled wide receiver Vincent Jackson to jar the ball loose on a pass over the middle and, suddenly, the momentum and the game changed.
And while overall Russian production continues to inch upward (about 1.6 percent so far this year), that is thanks only to a strong burst of drilling in the older fields, plus the development of a handful of new fields at the periphery of the country.
