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July ANS production slips below June average
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Alaska North Slope crude oil production averaged 724,564 barrels per day in July, down just 0.01 percent from a June average of 724,638 bpd.
Production began the month at more than 766,000 bpd, ending the month in the low 600,000-bpd range as planned maintenance began at both Endicott and Prudhoe Bay Flow Station 2.
The Alaska Department of Revenue’s Tax Division said Endicott started a 28-day turnaround July 28 which will see one compressor train out of service until the end of August, reducing Endicott production by some 13,000 bpd.
Planned maintenance at Prudhoe Bay Flow Station 2 July 28-Aug. 8 will result in a decrease of approximately 33,000 bpd, the division said.
The BP Exploration (Alaska)-operated Prudhoe Bay field had the largest month-to-month increase, averaging 307,382 bpd in July, up 5.8 percent from a June average of 290,569 bpd. Prudhoe production was down 12.2 percent from May to June due to maintenance and a normal summer production drop due to warmer temperatures, which reduce compressor operating efficiency.
Prudhoe Bay production includes satellite production from Aurora, Borealis, Midnight Sun, Orion, Polaris; some 400-600 bpd from Lisburne; and Point McIntyre.
Lisburne, part of Greater Prudhoe Bay, and also operated by BP, includes Niakuk production. Lisburne averaged 15,777 bpd in July, down 21 percent from a June average of 19,982 bpd.
Greater Prudhoe Bay production averaged 356,159 bpd in July, up 3.7 percent from a June average of 343,551 bpd.
Kuparuk up 3 percent Production from the Kuparuk River field, operated by ConocoPhillips Alaska, averaged 157,550 bpd in July, up 3.1 percent from a June average of 152,814 bpd. Kuparuk includes satellite production from Tabasco, Tarn, Meltwater and West Sak.
BP’s Milne Point field, which includes Schrader Bluff production, was up marginally, averaging 38,154 bpd in July, up 0.3 percent from a June average of 38,044 bpd.
The ConocoPhillips-operated Alpine field had the largest month-to-month drop, averaging 122,463 bpd in July, down 9.6 percent from a June average of 135,459 bpd. Alpine production includes Fiord and Nanuq.
The BP-operated Northstar field averaged 38,372 bpd in July, down 5 percent from a June average of 40,413 bpd.
Production from the BP-operated Endicott field (including Sag Delta, Eider, Badami and approximately 33,000 bpd of Prudhoe Bay Flow Station 2 oil) averaged 44,866 bpd in July, down 5.3 percent from a June average of 47,357 bpd. Endicott production began the month at more than 55,000 bpd; production slowed to just under 22,000 bpd July 27 and dropped below 7,000 bpd July 28-31 due to the turnaround.
The average temperature at Pump Station No. 1 at the trans-Alaska oil pipeline on the North Slope averaged 48.8 degrees Fahrenheit for July; the five-year July average is 46.4 degrees F.
Cook Inlet production averaged 15,306 bpd, down 3.3 percent from a June average of 15,826 bpd.
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