December ANS volumes up 1% to 477,164 bpd Click here to go to the full PDF version of this issue, with any maps, photos or other artwork that appears in some of the articles. Kuparuk has largest month-over-month (& year-over-year) gain, up 4.8% to 94,571 bpd, followed by Prudhoe, up 1.8% to 247,804 bpd Kristen Nelson Petroleum News Alaska North Slope production averaged 477,164 barrels per day in December, up 1.17%, 5,512 bpd, from a November average of 471,651 bpd, but down 1.1% from a December 2024 average of 482,485 bpd. Crude volumes averaged 425,070 bpd, 89.08% of the total for December, up 4,115 bpd, 0.98%, from a November average of 420,955 bpd, but down 0.37% from a December 2024 average of 426,650 bpd. North Slope natural gas liquids averaged 52,093 bpd in December, 10.92% of the total, up 1,397 bpd, 2.76%, from a November average of 50,696 bpd but down 6.7% from a December 2024 average of 55,835 bpd. Production data come from the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission which reports production by field and well on a month delay basis. North Slope Borough temperatures averaged -17 degrees F in December, down 6.3 degrees from a mean of -6.3 degrees F for 1925-2025, according to the county time series maintained by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. Largest increase at Kuparuk The ConocoPhillips Alaska-operated Kuparuk River field had the largest month-over-month increase, averaging 94,571 bpd in December, up 4,317 bpd, 4.78%, from a November average of 90,255 bpd and up 17.11% from a December 2024 average of 80,755 bpd. In the 2025 Kuparuk plan of development, for work ending July 31, 2025, ConocoPhillips drilled nine wells in the Coyote participating are, seven wells in the Torok PA and three wells in the West Sak PA. For the 2026 POD, which began Aug. 1, 2025, seven wells are planned in the Torok PA, four at West Sak and one at Coyote. In addition to the main Kuparuk pool, Kuparuk produces from Coyote, Tabasco, Tarn, Torok and West Sak. ConocoPhillips is the majority working interest owner at Kuparuk. ExxonMobil, the only other WIO, holds less than 3%. The second-largest month-over-month increase was at the Hilcorp Alaska-operated Prudhoe Bay field, which averaged 257,804 bpd in December, up 1,805 bpd, 0.71%, from a November average of 255,999 bpd, but down 2.41% from a December 2024 average of 264,159 bpd. Crude averaged 208,418 bpd, 80.84% of total volume, up 495 bpd, 0.24%, from a November average of 207,923 bpd but down 1.43% from a December 2024 average of 211,451 bpd. Prudhoe NGLs averaged 49,386 bpd in December, 19.16% of total volume, up 1,311 bpd, 2.73%, from a November average of 48,076 bpd but down 6.3% from a December 2024 average of 52,708 bpd. Hilcorp is drilling some new wells at Prudhoe, nine last year and five planned for this year in the Western Satellite area, four this year in the Greater Point McIntyre area, but in the Initial Participating area the focus is on sidetracks -- 37 last year and 39 planned this year -- with just one well in each of those POD years. In addition to the primary reservoir, production volumes from Prudhoe include Aurora, Borealis, Lisburne, Midnight Sun, Niakuk, Polaris, Point McIntyre, Put River, Raven and Schrader Bluff. ConocoPhillips Alaska holds 36.5% of the working interest ownership at Prudhoe; ExxonMobil Alaska Production holds 36.4%; Hilcorp North Slope holds 27.1%. Hilcorp Alaska's Endicott averaged 4,975 bpd in December, up 471 bpd, 10.45%, from a November average of 4,505 bpd but down 12.49% from a December 2024 average of 5,685 bpd. Endicott crude averaged 4,539 bpd, 91.23% of the total, up 397 bpd, 9.58%, from a November average of 4,142 bpd but down 12.64% from a December 2024 average of 5,195 bpd. Endicott NGLs averaged 436 bpd in December, 8.77% of total volume, up 74 bpd, 20.34%, from a November average of 363 bpd, but down 10.95% from a December 2024 average of 490 bpd. Hilcorp Alaska's Nikaitchuq averaged 13,603 bpd in December, up 239 bpd, 1.79%, from a November average of 13,364 bpd, but down 9.79% from a December 2025 average of 15,079 bpd. Hilcorp Alaska acquired Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk from Eni in November 2024. Mustang Holding's Southern Miluveach averaged 887 bpd in December, up 58 bpd, 7.03%, from a November average of 828 bpd. Southern Miluveach came online at the end of December 2024, with production for that month averaging 36 bpd. Hilcorp Alaska's Northstar averaged 4,814 bpd in December, up 26 bpd, 0.55%, from a November average of 4,788 bpd but down 11.02% from a December 2024 average of 5,410 bpd. Northstar crude averaged 2,544 bpd in December, 52.84% of total volume, up 14 bpd, 0.54%, from a November average of 2,530 bpd but down 8.29% from a December 2024 average of 2,773 bpd. Northstar NGLs averaged 2,271 bpd in December, 47.16% of total volume, up 13 bpd, 0.56%, from a November average of 2,258 bpd but down 13.9% from a December 2024 average of 2,637 bpd. There was also production from a test well at Oil Search's Pikka, averaging 1,118 bpd for December. The field is not yet in production and had no test volumes in November. Month-over-month declines The largest month-over-month volume decline was at Hilcorp Alaska's Milne Point, which averaged 49,624 bpd in December, down 1,281 bpd, 2.52%, from a November average of 50,906 bpd, but up 3.11% from a December 2024 average of 48,130 bpd. Milne Point produces primarily from the Schrader Bluff and Kuparuk oil pools, with minor Sag River and Ugnu volumes. ConocoPhillips' Greater Mooses Tooth in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska averaged 8,101 bpd in December, down 718 bpd, 8.14%, from a November average of 8,819 bpd and down 41.76% from a December 2024 average of 13,910 bpd. Hilcorp Alaska's Oooguruk averaged 6,426 bpd in December, down 198 bpd, 2.99%, from a November average of 6,625 bpd but up 2.73% from a December 2024 average of 6,256 bpd. Hilcorp Alaska acquired Oooguruk from Eni in November 2024. ConocoPhillips' Colville River averaged 29,408 bpd in December, down 173 bpd, 0.59%, from a November average of 29,581 bpd and down 18.41% from a December 2024 average of 36,044 bpd. In addition to oil from the main Alpine pool, Colville includes production from the Nanuq and Qannik oil pools. Savant Alaska's Badami averaged 1,703 bpd in December, down 104 bpd, 5.75%, from a November average of 1,807 bpd and down 37.56% from a December 2024 average of 2,728 bpd. Savant is a Glacier Oil and Gas company. The Hilcorp Alaska-operated Point Thomson field averaged 4,128 bpd in December, down 48 bpd, 1.14%, from a November average of 4,175 bpd and down 3.82% from a December 2024 average of 4,292 bpd. Operator Hilcorp holds 36.148% of Point Thomson, with ExxonMobil Alaska Production the majority working interest owner at 61.637% and other owners collectively holding 2.215%. Cook Inlet crude edges up Cook Inlet crude averaged 7,784 bpd in December, up 169 bpd, 2.19%, from a November average of 7,616 bpd and up 0.73% from a December 2024 average of 7,728 bpd. The volumes are 98.98% crude oil and 1.02% natural gas liquids, all from Swanson River. The largest month-over-month increase was at Hilcorp Alaska's Trading Bay field, which averaged 873 bpd in December, up 326 bpd, 59.58%, from a November average of 547 bpd but down 0.23% from a December 2024 average of 875 bpd. Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 869 bpd in December, up 18 bpd, 2.17%, from a November average of 850 bpd but down 7.53% from a December 2024 average of 939 bpd. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company. CIE's Redoubt Shoal averaged 567 bpd in December, up 16 bpd, 2.99%, from a November average of 551 bpd and up 180.14% from a December 2024 average of 203 bpd. Hilcorp Alaska's McArthur River, Cook Inlet's largest crude producer, averaged 2,369 bpd in December, down 104 bpd, 4.2%, from a November average of 2,473 bpd but up 10.27% from a December 2024 average of 2,148 bpd. BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 505 bpd in December, down 68 bpd, 11.89%, from a November average of 573 bpd and down 16.54% from a December 2024 average of 605 bpd. Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 125 bpd in December, down 12 bpd, 8.66%, from a November average of 137 bpd and down 33.57% from a December 2024 average of 188 bpd. Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 1,723 bpd in December, down 9 bpd, 0.5%, from a November average of 1,732 bpd and down 15.02% from a December 2024 average of 2,027 bpd. Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 752 bpd in December, down 1 bpd, 0.18%, from a November average of 753 bpd but up 1.51% from a December 2024 average of 741. ANS crude oil production peaked in 1988 at 2.1 million bpd; Cook Inlet crude oil production peaked in 1970 at more than 227,000 bpd. Print this story | Email it to an associate.

Cook Inlet gas up year-over-year Natural gas production from Cook Inlet averaged 209,218 thousand cubic feet per day in December, down 1,512 mcf, 0.72%, from a November average of 210,730 mcf per day, but up 12.22% from a December 2024 average of 186,431 mcf per day. Volumes are calculated from Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission data, reported on a month-delay basis. For natural gas AOGCC reports measurements in thousands of cubic feet, mcf. Six fields accounted for 83.83% of December production: five operated by Hilcorp Alaska and one operated by Furie. Hilcorp-operated Beluga River, whose majority working interest owner is Chugach Electric Association, averaged 55,483 mcf per day in December, 26.52% of inlet production, down 1,657 mcf per day, 2.9%, from a November average of 57,140 mcf per day but up 21.5% from a December 2024 average of 45,665 mcf per day. Hilcorp drilled five grassroots wells at Beluga in the 2024 plan of development period and plans up to six wells in the 2025 POD period, which runs from April through May. Hilcorp's North Cook Inlet averaged 43,351 mcf per day in December, 20.72% of inlet production, up 2,532 mcf per day, 6.2%, from a November average of 40,819 mcf per day and up 0.47% from a December 2024 average of 43,147 mcf per day. During the 2024 POD, July through June, Hilcorp drilled three grassroots wells and one sidetrack; three sidetracks are planned during the 2025 POD. Hilcorp's Ninilchik averaged 27,489 mcf per day, 13.14% of inlet volume, down 335 mcf per day, 1.2%, from a November average of 27,823 mcf per day but up 4.58% from a December 2024 average of 26,285 mcf per day. Hilcorp drilled three development wells in the 2024 POD period, August to July, and is evaluating two to four development wells in the 2025 POD period. Furie's Kitchen Lights averaged 19,563 mcf per day in December, 9.35% of inlet volume, down 333 mcf per day, 1.67%, from a November average of 19,896 mcf per day but up 64.01% from a December 2024 average of 11,928 mcf per day. AOGCC drilling records show three wells completed at Kitchen Lights, one in November 2024 and one each in May and June of 2025. Hilcorp's Kenai gas field averaged 17,767 mcf per day in December, 8.49% of inlet volume, up 30 mcf per day, 0.17%, from a November average of 17,737 mcf per day and up 1.54% from a December 2024 average of 17,498 mcf per day. AOGCC drilling records show three development wells completed at the Kenai field in 2024 and none in 2025. Hilcorp's McArthur River averaged 11,736 mcf per day in December, down 812 mcf per day, 6.47%, from a November average of 12,548 mcf per day but up 11.99% from a December 2024 average of 10,480 mcf per day. Sixteen smaller contributors accounted for the remainder of Cook Inlet gas production in December. Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 6,352 mcf per day in December, down 1,156 mcf per day, 15.4%, from a November average of 7,508 mcf per day and down 11.45% from a December 2024 average of 7,173 mcf per day. Hilcorp's Cannery Loop averaged 3,845 mcf per day in December, up 121 mcf per day, 3.24%, from a November average of 3,724 mcf per day but down 9.52% from a December 2024 average of 4,249 mcf per day. Hilcorp's Pretty Creek averaged 3,807 mcf per day in December, up 953 mcf per day, 33.41%, from a November average of 2,854 mcf per day and up 6,817.88% from a December 2024 average of 55 mcf per day. Hilcorp's Deep Creek averaged 3,457 mcf per day in December, down 175 mcf per day, 4.81%, from a November average of 3,631 mcf per day but up 24.38% from a December 2024 average of 2,779 mcf per day. Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 2,978 mcf per day in December, down 482 mcf per day, 13.94%, from a November average of 3,460 mcf per day and down 33.34% from a December 2024 average of 4,467 mcf per day. Hilcorp's Whiskey Gulch averaged 2,970 mcf per day in December, down 367 mcf per day, 11%, from a November average of 3,338 mcf per day. The field was not in production in December 2024. Hilcorp's North Fork averaged 2,526 mcf per day in December, up 212 mcf per day, 9.18%, from a November average of 2,314 mcf per day and up 49.36% from a December 2024 average of 1,692 mcf per day. Hilcorp became North Fork operator effective May 2025. Hilcorp's Ivan River averaged 2,401 mcf per day in December, down 21 mcf per day, 0.85%, from a November average of 2,422 mcf per day but up 119.16% from a December 2024 average of 1,096 mcf per day. Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 2,255 mcf per day in December, down 29 mcf per day, 1.29%, from a November average of 2,285 mcf per day and down 22.77% from a December 2024 average of 2,920 mcf per day. Hilcorp's Lewis River averaged 1,546 mcf per day in December, down 265 mcf per day, 14.65%, from a November average of 1,811 mcf per day and down 39.08% from a December 2024 average of 2,538 mcf per day. Hilcorp's Trading Bay averaged 667 mcf per day in December, up 309 mcf per day, 86.05%, from a November average of 359 mcf per day but down 19.61% from a December 2024 average of 830 mcf per day. BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 492 mcf per day in December, down 68 mcf per day, 12.12%, from a November average of 560 mcf per day and down 47.55% from a December 2024 average of 938 mcf per day. Amaroq's Nicolai Creek averaged 221 mcf per day in December, up 37 mcf per day, 19.99%, from a November average of 184 mcf per day but down 32.86% from a December 2024 average of 329 mcf per day. Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 179 mcf per day, down 6 mcf per day, 3.31%, from a November average of 185 mcf per day and down 27.29% from a December 2024 average of 246 mcf per day. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company. CIE's Redoubt Shoal averaged 105 mcf per day in December, down 2 mcf per day, 2.09%, from a November average of 108 mcf per day, but up 161.15% from a December 2024 average of 40 mcf per day. AIX's Kenai Loop averaged 28 mcf per day in December, up 2 mcf per day, 7.69%, from a November average of 26 mcf per day but down 98.51%