November ANS production edges up by 0.4%

Month-over-month increase led by Prudhoe, Milne; Kuparuk down, but up from 2024; Colville, Nikaitchuq, Greater Mooses Tooth down

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Alaska North Slope production averaged 471,651 barrels per day in November, the most recent month for which the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission reports data by well and field. That was a 0.43% increase, 2,026 bpd, from an October average of 469,625 bpd, but a 3.09% decrease from a November 2024 average of 486,700 bpd.

Crude oil was 89.25% of November ANS production, averaging 420,955 bpd, up 0.14%, 601 bpd, from an October average of 420,354 bpd, but down 2.34% from a November 2024 average of 431,059 bpd. Natural gas liquids accounted for 10.75% of November production, averaging 50,696 bpd, up 1,426 bpd, 2.89%, from an October average of 49,271 bpd but down 8.89% from a November 2024 average of 55,641 bpd.

The county time series maintained by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information shows North Slope Borough temperatures averaged 9.3 degrees F in November, down 2.2 degrees from a 1925-24 mean of 11.5 degrees.

Month-over-month increases

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's Milne Point averaged 50,906 bpd in November, the first month in which Hilcorp has topped the 50,000-bpd average mark for a month at the field. The volume is up 2,086 bpd, 4.27%, from an October average of 48,819 bpd and up 7.25% from an October 2024 average of 47,565 bpd.

Milne Point produces primarily from the Schrader Bluff and Kuparuk oil pools, with minor Sag River and Ugnu volumes.

Hilcorp's Oooguruk averaged 6,625 bpd in November, up 488 bpd, 7.95%, from an October average of 6,137 bpd, and up 8.22% from a November 2024 average of 6,121 bpd. Hilcorp Alaska acquired Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk from Eni in November 2024.

Month-over-month decreases

In addition to the main Kuparuk pool, Kuparuk produces from Coyote, Tabasco, Tarn, Torok and West Sak.

AOGCC has been reporting test volumes from wells at the Oil Search-operated Pikka unit, which is not yet in production, since January 2024 and reported no volumes in November, down 1,717 bpd from the October volume reported by the commission.

ConocoPhillips is the majority working interest owner at Kuparuk. ExxonMobil, the only other WIO, holds less than 3%.

Hilcorp's Nikaitchuq averaged 13,364 bpd in November, down 1,652 bpd, 11%, from an October average of 15,016 bpd and down 7.62% from a November 2024 average of 14,467 bpd.

ConocoPhillips' Greater Mooses Tooth in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska averaged 8,819 bpd in November, down 1,054 bpd, 10.67%, from an October average of 9,873 bpd and down 46.5% from a November 2024 average of 16,484 bpd.

ConocoPhillips' Colville River averaged 29,581 bpd in November, down 943 bpd, 3.09%, from an October average of 30,525 bpd and down 17.04% from a November 2024 average of 35,657 bpd.

In addition to oil from the main Alpine pool, Colville includes production from the Nanuq and Qannik oil pools.

Hilcorp's Endicott averaged 4,505 bpd in November, down 545 bpd, 10.79%, from an October average of 5,049 bpd and down 19.91% from a November 2024 average of 5,625 bpd. Crude, which accounted for 91.95% of Endicott production in November, averaged 4,142 bpd, down 458 bpd, 9.95%, from an October average of 4,599 bpd and down 19.31% from a November 2024 average of 5,133 bpd. Endicott NGLs averaged 363 bpd in November, down 87 bpd, 19.37%, from an October average of 450 bpd and down 26.17% from a November 2024 average of 491 bpd.

Mustang Holding's Southern Miluveach averaged 828 bpd in November, down 215 bpd, 20.59%, from an October average of 1,043 bpd. The field was not in production in November 2024.

Savant Alaska's Badami averaged 1,807 bpd in November, down 126 bpd, 6.54%, from an October average of 1,933 bpd and down 44.51% from a November 2024 average of 3,257 bpd. Savant Alaska is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Hilcorp's Northstar averaged 4,788 bpd in November, down 97 bpd, 1.99%, from an October average of 4,885 bpd and down 10.25% from a November 2024 average of 5,335 bpd. Northstar crude averaged 2,530 bpd in November, 52.84% of the field's volume, up 20 bpd, 0.78%, from an October average of 2,510 bpd but down 5.99% from a November 2024 average of 2,691 bpd. Northstar NGLs averaged 2,258 bpd in November, 47.16% of volume, down 117 bpd, 4.92%, from an October average of 2,375 bpd and down 14.59% from a November 2024 average of 2,644 bpd.

The Hilcorp-operated Point Thomson unit averaged 4,175 bpd in November, down 18 bpd, 0.43%, from an October average of 4,193 bpd and down 3.83% from a November 2024 average of 4,342 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 up marginally

Hilcorp's McArthur River, Cook Inlet's largest crude producer, averaged 2,473 bpd in November, up 114 bpd, 4.84%, from an October average of 2,359 bpd and up 0.46% from a November 2024 average of 2,461 bpd.

Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 1,732 bpd in November, up 65 bpd, 3.93%, from an October average of 1,666 bpd but down 12.65% from a November 2024 average of 1,982 bpd.

Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 850 bpd in November, down 30 bpd, 3.44%, from an October average of 881 bpd but up 13.21% from a November 2024 average of 751 bpd. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 753 bpd in November, 681 bpd of crude and 72 bpd of NGLs, up 73 bpd, 10.78%, from an October average of 680 bpd and up 1.12% from a November 2024 average of 745 bpd.

BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 573 bpd in November, up 67 bpd, 13.15%, from an October average of 507 bpd but down 9.56% from a November 2024 average of 634 bpd.

CIE's Redoubt Shoal averaged 551 bpd in November, down 21 bpd, 3.62%, from an October average of 572 bpd but up 13.24% from a November 2024 average of 487 bpd. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Hilcorp's Trading Bay averaged 547 bpd in November, down 149 bpd, 21.45%, from an October average of 697 bpd and down 38% from a November 2024 average of 883 bpd.

Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 137 bpd in November, down 5 bpd, 3.39%, from an October average of 142 bpd and down 28.73% from a November 2024 average of 192 bpd.

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.

Cook Inlet gas production down 1%

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.

In November 83.5% of inlet gas production was from six fields: Beluga River, Kenai, Kitchen Lights, McArthur River, Ninilchik and North Cook Inlet.

The Hilcorp Alaska-operated Beluga River field tops the list at 57,140 mcf per day in November, 27.12% of inlet production, up 2,935 mcf per day, 5.42%, from an October average of 54,204 mcf per day and up 24.18% from a November 2024 average of 46,014 mcf per day. Field operator Hilcorp holds a minority working interest ownership in the field; Chugach Electric Association is the majority WIO.

Hilcorp's North Cook Inlet averaged 40,819 mcf per day in November, 19.37% of inlet production, up 2,907 mcf per day, 7.67%, from an October average of 37,912 mcf per day but down 12.75% from a November 2024 average of 46,783 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Ninilchik averaged 27,823 mcf per day in November, 13.2% of inlet production, down 1,272 mcf per day, 4.37%, from an October average of 29,095 mcf per day but up 4.87% from a November 2024 average of 26,532 mcf per day.

Furie's Kitchen Lights averaged 19,896 mcf per day in November, 9.44% of inlet production, down 4,403 mcf per day, 18.12%, from an October average of 24,299 mcf per day but up 126.3% from a November 2024 average of 8,792 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Kenai gas field averaged 17,737 mcf per day in November, 8.42% of inlet production, down 18 mcf per day, 0.1%, from an October average of 17,755 mcf per day and down 1.1% from a November 2024 average of 17,934 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's McArthur River averaged 12,548 mcf per day in November, 5.95% of inlet production, down 214 mcf per day, 1.68%, from an October average of 12,762 mcf per day but up 16.11% from a November 2024 average of 10,807 mcf per day.

Sixteen fields accounted for the remaining 16.5% of November natural gas production.

Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 7,508 mcf per day in November, down 2,577 mcf per day, 25.55%, from an October average of 10,085 mcf per day but up 1.36% from a November 2024 average of 7,407 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Cannery Loop averaged 3,724 mcf per day in November, down 85 mcf per day, 2.24%, from an October average of 3,809 mcf per day and down 2.24% from a November 2024 average of 4,798 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Deep Creek averaged 3,631 mcf per day in November, down 107 mcf per day, 2.86%, from an October average of 3,738 mcf per day but up 29.31% from a November 2024 average of 2,808 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 3,460 mcf per day in November, down 119 mcf per day, 3.32%, from an October average of 3,579 mcf per day and down 22.17% from a November 2024 average of 4,446 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Whiskey Gulch averaged 3,338 mcf per day in November, up 1,026 mcf per day from an October average of 2,312 mcf per day. Hilcorp brought the field, north of Seaview, online in October. Production is from a single well.

Hilcorp's Pretty Creek averaged 2,854 mcf per day in November, up 931 mcf per day, 48.43%, from an October average of 1,923 mcf per day and up 491.16% from a November average of 483 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Ivan River averaged 2,422 mcf per day in November, down 973 mcf per day, 28.66%, from an October average of 3,395 mcf per day but up 114.03% from a November 2024 average of 1,131 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's North Fork averaged 2,314 mcf per day in November, up 109 mcf per day, 4.94%, from an October average of 2,205 mcf per day and up 32.39% from a November 2024 average of 1,748 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 2,285 mcf per day in November, up 45 mcf per day, 2%, from an October average of 2,240 mcf per day but down 22.48% from a November 2024 average of 2,947 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Lewis River averaged 1,811 mcf per day in November, up 39 mcf per day, 2.2%, from an October average of 1,772 mcf per day but down 38.01% from a November 2024 average of 2,922 mcf per day.

BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 560 mcf per day in November, down 23 mcf per day, 3.88%, from an October average of 582 mcf per day and down 43.22% from a November 2024 average of 986 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Trading Bay averaged 359 mcf per day in November, down 255 mcf per day, 41.51%, from an October average of 613 mcf per day and down 57.31% from a November 2024 average of 840 mcf per day.

Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 185 mcf per day in November, down 15 mcf per day, 7.54%, from an October average of 200 mcf per day and down 24% from a November 2024 average of 244 mcf per day. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Amaroq's Nicolai Creek averaged 184 mcf per day in November, down 153 mcf per day, 45.42%, from an October average of 338 mcf per day and down 58.46% from a November 2024 average of 444 mcf per day.

CIE's Redoubt Shoal averaged 108 mcf per day in November, down 10 mcf per day, 8.46%, from an October average of 118 mcf per day and down 23.72% from a November 2024 average of 141 mcf per day. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

AIX's Kenai Loop averaged 26 mcf per day in November, up 10 mcf, 62.5%, from an October average of 16 mcf per day but down 98.64% from a November 2024 average of 1,907 mcf per day.

There was no November production from Hilcorp's Nikolaevsk, which had been producing from a single well, Red 1, since 2012.

Cook Inlet natural gas production peaked in 1990 at more than 850,000 mcf per day.

'KRISTEN NELSON

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