Couple local guys, who over last few years never had any time off from up the slope are layed off this winter. They are actually thinking about heading south to Montana they tell me. Oil has always been boom or bust; but is long term exploration as sensitive to oil prices as it seems? Fuel is still $5.75 a gal here in eagle ha.
Certainly a place like the Alaskan North Slope is less volatile in drilling programs than simple wells in Oklahoma. But it also takes more willingness to risk and commit funds and that is drying up fast.
Most of the Slope is still quite busy. But I do know of at least one independent that canceled their plans for this winter exploration.