Absolutely, anyone interested in drilling for oil in Alaska's wilderness should be free to do so. If that is true than Alaska ceases to exist. The territory that they claim, is no longer under the direction of the state soverigns. What if Alaska doesn't want people to drill for oil in their State?
In #77 you misrepresented my position. My position is that it is rightful to claim unclaimed property when no offense occurs to the rights of present property holders. I do not say that it is rightful to claim property merely because there is no intention to claim them. For example, if a Bedouin declares that he would like to hold on to that piece of sand because he might drill for oil later, then Exxon should respect his wishes as long as his claim is material and credible. By that I mean that the Bedouin should travel through the land or otherwise be present on it; and he should somehow make his intention more than an empty abstract intent. If the Bedouin says to Exxon: Sorry, I just contacted the French engineers that might rent me their drilling equipment, and besides I enjoy the sunset over that particular sand dune, -- then perhaps, the Exxon should not claim but negotiate.
I do object to the Arabian (or Alaskan) government simply claiming that anyone who wishes to drill inside the sovereignty perimeter needs a permit from the government. The government is there to protect the rights of its citizens. If there is no objection coming from the Bedouin or from an Alaskan, then a foreigner should be able to extract the resource.
So, to answer directly your question in #78, if the Alaskans do not want Exxon (or a foreign oil company) to drill there, they have to say so. If the Alaskan government doesn't want the drilling but cannot connect its (government's) wants to any popular demand, then that government has no legitimacy in doing so.