Statewide production for April drops slightly

Kristen Nelson

Statewide crude oil production averaged 1.071 million barrels a day in April, down 0.22 percent (2,358 barrels a day) from the March average of 1.073 million barrels a day. April Alaska North Slope liquids production (crude oil and natural gas liquids) averaged 1,039,833 barrels a day, down an average of 4,473 barrels a day (0.43 percent) from March. Cook Inlet production rose an average of 2,115 barrels a day (7.16 percent) from March to an April average of 31,662 barrels a day.

The Department of Revenue Tax Division reports that Endicott experienced a small crude leak and had to cut throughput March 31-April 2. That field had the largest percent drop in production, averaging 39,401 barrels a day in April, down 6.41 percent (2,700 barrels a day) from March. Prudhoe Bay had the largest per barrel drop in production, averaging 596,786 barrels a day in April, down 4,794 barrels a day (0.8 percent) from March.

The Lisburne production center, which processes Lisburne, Point McIntyre and Niakuk, averaged 104,557 barrels a day, down 3,460 (3.2 percent) from March. The Tax Division said that there were electrical problems after the installation of a new generation, forcing production down at Lisburne on April 14-15; there were additional electrical problems April 29.

The Kuparuk River field (production from Kuparuk, Tarn, Tabasco) had the largest increase in production, averaging 244,705 barrels a day in April, up 5,700 barrels a day from March (2.38 percent).

Production at Milne Point was also up, averaging 54,384 barrels a day in April, up 781 barrels (1.46 percent) from March.

Production of Prudhoe Bay natural gas liquids averaged 55,107 barrels a day in April, down 3,969 barrels (6.72 percent) from April.