January ANS production down 3 percent from December rates

Kristen Nelson

Alaska North Slope production averaged 1,058,930 barrels a day in January, down 2.84 percent from an average of 1,089,848 barrels a day in December. The largest percentage decline was at Endicott, where production averaged only 37,750 barrels per day in January, down 9.5 percent from an average of 41,697 barrels a day in December.

Economist Denise Hawes of the Alaska Department of Revenue Division of Oil and Gas Audit said Endicott reported unidentified problems Jan. 22-24.

Prudhoe Bay production had the largest per barrel drop, averaging 609,066 barrels a day in January down 13,926 barrels a day from an average of 622,992 barrels a day for December (a 2.24 percent drop); Hawes said work continues on piping at Prudhoe Bay to allow oil to go through one meter.

Kuparuk production also down

Production from the Lisburne production center (which includes Point McIntyre and Niakuk) averaged 112,386 barrels a day in January, down only 0.12 percent from a December average of 112,526 barrels a day.

Milne Point averaged 51,388 barrels a day in January, down 3.1 percent (1,621 barrels) from a December average of 53,009 barrels a day.

In Cook Inlet, production averaged 29,454 barrels a day in January, down 1.8 percent (549 barrels) from a December average of 30,003 barrels a day.

As of Jan. 31, Revenue said, fiscal year-to-date production is averaging 1.043 million barrels a day, 15,000 barrels a day below the department’s fall 1999 projection of 1.058 million barrels a day for fiscal year 2000.