|
Northstar, Alpine production up
Kristen Nelson, Petroleum News editor-in-chief
March production on Alaska's North Slope was down 1 percent from February, averaging 1,044,921 barrels per day compared to an average of 1,055,952 bpd in February.
But production at individual fields was up: 25 percent at Northstar; 13 percent at Lisburne; 10 percent at Alpine; 8 percent at Milne Point. At Northstar and Alpine the March numbers were new highs for monthly average production.
The Lisburne increase, to an average of 68,323 bpd from 60,296 in February, puts that facility back into the range of production it saw in December and January. Lisburne includes production from the Point McIntyre and Niakuk fields and from a single well at West Beach.
Milne Point production, which includes Schrader Bluff and Sag River oil, has ranged from 47,533 bpd (monthly average) to 55,616 bpd over the last year. March production of an average of 52,916 bpd is up 7.6 percent from the February average of 49,177 bpd, but well within the range of what the field has been producing. New highs at Alpine, Northstar The increase at Alpine, which averaged 105,032 bpd in March compared to 95,355 bpd in February, was due to colder weather, ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. spokeswoman Dawn Patience told Petroleum News. Compressors work better in colder weather, she said, and March was colder.
Previous high average monthly production rates at the field, which came on line in November 2000, were 101,453 bpd in November 2001 and 102,813 bpd last December.
The temperature at Pump Station No. 1 averaged -11 degrees Fahrenheit in March, compared to +4.3 degrees F in February. March was colder than average. The Department of Revenue, which reports temperature along with production averages, said the -11 degrees F compared with a three-year March average of -7.8 degrees F.
Northstar reliability, drilling Northstar production averaged 62,966 bpd in March, even though the field was down March 6 to tie in a new well, compared to 50,201 bpd in February. The previous high monthly average for the field was 60,980 bpd in June. That field came on line in November 2001.
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. spokesman Daren Beaudo told Petroleum News that there are two reasons for increased production from Northstar.
“We have increased our facility reliability and have had a successful ongoing initial drilling program that continues through the end of this year. We currently have 10 producing wells with another three on the drilling plan this year,” he said.
Improvements made so far include better protection of equipment from winter temperatures and changes in portions of the compressor system, Beaudo said. Some compressor challenges remain and BP will be doing some work to “iron out the wrinkles,” he said.
The design at Northstar is for a plateau production rate of 65,000 bpd. Other production down Production was down at other fields in the state.
Endicott, which includes production from Sag River, Eider and Badami, has the steepest decline, dropping 8.6 percent in March to an average of 30,721 bpd, down from 33,625 bpd in February.
Prudhoe Bay production was down 6.5 percent, averaging 512,570 bpd in March, down from 548,376 bpd in February. Prudhoe Bay production includes five satellites: Midnight Sun, Aurora, Polaris, Borealis and Orion.
Kuparuk River production dropped 3 percent, averaging 212,393 bpd in March, down from 218,922 bpd in February. Kuparuk production includes West Sak, Tabasco, Tarn, Meltwater and Palm.
Cook Inlet production averaged 27,882 bpd in March, down 5 percent from a February average of 29,392 bpd.
|
