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March North Slope volumes up marginally
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Alaska North Slope crude oil production averaged 742,002 barrels per day in March, nearly flat from a February average of 738,318 bpd.
The increase of just 0.5 percent in average daily production was led in volume by the North Slope’s largest field, Prudhoe Bay, which averaged 375,745 bpd, up 2.55 percent from a February average of 366,406 bpd. BP Exploration (Alaska) operates the Prudhoe Bay field, whose production includes western satellite fields: Aurora, Borealis, Midnight Sun, Orion and Polaris.
The BP-operated Northstar field had the largest percentage increase, 2.62 percent, averaging 24,098 bpd in March, compared to 23,483 bpd in February.
The ConocoPhillips Alaska-operated Alpine field averaged 111,900 bpd in March, up 1.33 percent from a February average of 110,428 bpd. Alpine production includes satellite production from Fiord, Nanuq and Qannik.
Other fields down Other North Slope fields saw a month-over-month decline in production.
The BP-operated Lisburne field (part of Greater Prudhoe Bay) averaged 33,849 bpd in March, down 9 percent from a February average of 37,211 bpd. Lisburne production includes Point McIntyre and Niakuk.
The BP-operated Endicott field averaged 12,970 bpd in March, down 6.46 percent from a February average of 13,866 bpd.
BP’s Milne Point field averaged 29,784 bpd in March, down 2.38 percent from a February average of 30,509 bpd.
The ConocoPhillips Alaska-operated Kuparuk River field, the second-largest field on the North Slope, averaged 153,655 bpd in March, down 1.76 percent from a February average of 156,415. Kuparuk volumes include satellite production from Tabasco, Tarn, Meltwater and West Sak, as well as production from Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska’s Oooguruk field.
The March temperature at Pump Station 1 on the North Slope averaged minus 17.6 degrees Fahrenheit, down from a February average of minus 12.79 degrees F.
Cook Inlet numbers down Cook Inlet production averaged 10,940 bpd in March, down 6.59 percent from a February average of 11,712 bpd. Production in Cook Inlet has been reduced by platform shutdowns caused by volcanic activity from Mount Redoubt which has caused flooding in the Drift River drainage and the shut-in of the Drift River Terminal at the mouth of the river. Oil is stored at the terminal before being transported by tanker and backup storage facilities are limited (see Drift River update in this issue).
ANS crude oil production peaked in 1988 at some 2 million barrels a day; Cook Inlet crude oil production peaked in 1970 at more than 227,000 bpd.
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