>But it is not shipped to most US refineries, just the West Coast ones that are far closer than Japan.
Not sure I agree that Southern Cal is ‘far closer than Japan’, but at least at one time, I think Alaska produced more oil than could be refined on the West Coast.
It is 3,577 miles from Valdez, Alaska to Tokyo, Japan.
It is 2,253 miles from Valdez, Alaska to El Segundo, California (major refinery near Los Angeles)
I think 1,324 miles is pretty far, more than half the distance to Southern California and more than the distance to the closest refinery outside of Alaska.
It is 1,274 miles from Valdez, Alaska to Anacortes, Washington. (largest Washington refinery)
http://www.findlocalweather.com/how_far_is_it/ak/valdez.html
but at least at one time, I think Alaska produced more oil than could be refined on the West Coast.
Yes, from 1996 to 2000, about 5.5% of the Alaskan North Slope oil was exported outside the US.