December ANS production up 2 percent from November

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

December Alaska North Slope production was up 2.2 percent from November, averaging 1.038 million barrels a day compared to 1.015 million barrels a day for November, led by steadily increasing production from Alpine, which came on line in mid-November.

In December, Alpine production averaged 54,848 barrels a day, compared to 24,874 barrels a day for November, as production at the field ramps up to what operator Phillips Alaska Inc. projects at 80,000 barrels a day.

Production also increased at Prudhoe Bay, averaging 575,204 barrels a day, up 0.91 percent from a November average of 569,991 barrels a day.

Production at other North Slope fields was down in December. The Department of Revenue noted production problems at Endicott Dec. 17 and turbine problems which led to a shutdown at Milne Point Dec. 19.

Endicott production averaged 37,246 barrels a day in December, down 5.84 percent from November’s average of 39,557 barrels a day.

Lisburne production averaged 88,579 barrels a day in December, down 2.34 percent from a November average of 90,706 barrels a day. Lisburne production includes oil from the Lisburne, Niakuk and Point McIntyre fields.

Production at Kuparuk averaged 231,785 barrels a day in December, down 1.37 percent from a November average of 234,993 barrels a day.

Milne Point averaged 50,104 barrels a day in December, down 0.25 percent from a November average of 50,230 barrels a day.

Prudhoe Bay natural gas liquids production averaged 52,065 barrels a day, up 1.49 percent from a November average of 51,302 barrels a day.

The average December temperature at Pump Station No. 1 was -0.5 degrees Fahrenheit, 6.3 degrees warmer than a four-year average of -6.8 degrees for December.

In Cook Inlet, average production was 29,909 barrels a day for December, up 4.87 percent from a November average of 28,520 barrels a day.