Natalie Lowman, spokeswoman for operator ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc., told Petroleum News production was halted for field maintenance.

“Alpine began its annual turnaround July 21 and the facility will conduct planned maintenance for approximately 20 days,” Lowman said in a July 23 e-mail. “Work will include smart pigging of production lines, inspection of processing vessels and turbines, and repairs and replacement as needed to the facility’s equipment.”

Production at Alpine had been running as high as 77,655 barrels per day during July. With the loss of Alpine production, overall North Slope production fell to 427,948 barrels on July 22.

Alpine is the westernmost producing oil field on the North Slope, and the third-largest producer behind the giant Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk fields. Alpine started up in late 2000 and, combined with its satellite fields, has produced more than 425 million barrels of crude to date.

ConocoPhillips owns 77 percent of Alpine, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. holds 22 percent, and three other companies hold a combined 1 percent.

—Wesley Loy

See story in July 29 issue, available online at 11 a.m. Friday, July 27, at www.PetroleumNews.com