Colder temperatures, full operation on pipeline kick production up 12%

Kristen Nelson, PNA editor-in-chief

Alaska North Slope crude oil production averaged 1,033,814 barrels a day in December, up 12.3 percent from a November average of 920,591 bpd. November production took a hit early in the month when the pipeline was shut down for several days to assess and repair damage from the Nov. 3 earthquake. It was also colder in December, which improves production, averaging -1.8 degrees Fahrenheit at Pump Station 1, compared to 11 degrees F for November. Both temperatures were higher than three-year averages of 3 degrees F for November and -7.9 degrees F for December.

Lisburne (including Point McIntyre, Niakuk, West Beach and North Prudhoe Bay) had the largest percentage production increase, averaging 68,835 bpd in December, up 16.32 percent from 59,177 bpd in November.

Endicott (including Sag River, Eider and Badami) averaged 29,751 bpd in December, up 14 percent from a November average of 26,096 bpd. Production from Kuparuk (including West Sak, Tabasco, Tarn and Meltwater) averaged 220,791 bpd in December, up 13.81 percent from a November average of 193,999 bpd. Prudhoe Bay (including Midnight Sun, Aurora, Polaris and Borealis) averaged 503,693 bpd, up 13.8 percent from a November average of 442,621 bpd. Alpine (including Nanuq) averaged 102,813 bpd in December, up 10.53 percent from a November average of 93,019.

Milne Point (including Schrader Bluff and Sag River) averaged 52,732 bpd in December, up 3.61 percent from a November average of 50,896 bpd. Northstar held almost level, up just 0.76 percent to a December average of 55,199 bpd after a November average of 54,783 bpd.

Prudhoe Bay natural gas liquids averaged 47,065 bpd in December, up 16.82 percent from a November average of 40,290 bpd. Cook Inlet production averaged 29,937 bpd in December, up 4.92 percent from a November average of 28,534 bpd.