The potential resource along Alaska's North Slope is estimated at 126 trillion cubic feet, while about 52 tcf is thought to be awaiting discovery in Canada's Mackenzie Valley.

However, future discoveries in the north Yukon basins, where potential is estimated at around 11tcf of gas, are not expected to be enough to justify a stand-alone pipeline to southern markets, according to a recent report for the North Yukon Oil&Gas Working Group.

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