Sidebar: Cook Inlet gas up year-over-year

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Natural gas production from Cook Inlet averaged 209,218 thousand cubic feet per day in December, down 1,512 mcf, 0.72%, from a November average of 210,730 mcf per day, but up 12.22% from a December 2024 average of 186,431 mcf per day.

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.

Six fields accounted for 83.83% of December production: five operated by Hilcorp Alaska and one operated by Furie.

Hilcorp-operated Beluga River, whose majority working interest owner is Chugach Electric Association, averaged 55,483 mcf per day in December, 26.52% of inlet production, down 1,657 mcf per day, 2.9%, from a November average of 57,140 mcf per day but up 21.5% from a December 2024 average of 45,665 mcf per day. Hilcorp drilled five grassroots wells at Beluga in the 2024 plan of development period and plans up to six wells in the 2025 POD period, which runs from April through May.

Hilcorp's North Cook Inlet averaged 43,351 mcf per day in December, 20.72% of inlet production, up 2,532 mcf per day, 6.2%, from a November average of 40,819 mcf per day and up 0.47% from a December 2024 average of 43,147 mcf per day. During the 2024 POD, July through June, Hilcorp drilled three grassroots wells and one sidetrack; three sidetracks are planned during the 2025 POD.

Hilcorp's Ninilchik averaged 27,489 mcf per day, 13.14% of inlet volume, down 335 mcf per day, 1.2%, from a November average of 27,823 mcf per day but up 4.58% from a December 2024 average of 26,285 mcf per day. Hilcorp drilled three development wells in the 2024 POD period, August to July, and is evaluating two to four development wells in the 2025 POD period.

Furie's Kitchen Lights averaged 19,563 mcf per day in December, 9.35% of inlet volume, down 333 mcf per day, 1.67%, from a November average of 19,896 mcf per day but up 64.01% from a December 2024 average of 11,928 mcf per day. AOGCC drilling records show three wells completed at Kitchen Lights, one in November 2024 and one each in May and June of 2025.

Hilcorp's Kenai gas field averaged 17,767 mcf per day in December, 8.49% of inlet volume, up 30 mcf per day, 0.17%, from a November average of 17,737 mcf per day and up 1.54% from a December 2024 average of 17,498 mcf per day. AOGCC drilling records show three development wells completed at the Kenai field in 2024 and none in 2025.

Hilcorp's McArthur River averaged 11,736 mcf per day in December, down 812 mcf per day, 6.47%, from a November average of 12,548 mcf per day but up 11.99% from a December 2024 average of 10,480 mcf per day.

Sixteen smaller contributors accounted for the remainder of Cook Inlet gas production in December.

Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 6,352 mcf per day in December, down 1,156 mcf per day, 15.4%, from a November average of 7,508 mcf per day and down 11.45% from a December 2024 average of 7,173 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Cannery Loop averaged 3,845 mcf per day in December, up 121 mcf per day, 3.24%, from a November average of 3,724 mcf per day but down 9.52% from a December 2024 average of 4,249 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Pretty Creek averaged 3,807 mcf per day in December, up 953 mcf per day, 33.41%, from a November average of 2,854 mcf per day and up 6,817.88% from a December 2024 average of 55 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Deep Creek averaged 3,457 mcf per day in December, down 175 mcf per day, 4.81%, from a November average of 3,631 mcf per day but up 24.38% from a December 2024 average of 2,779 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 2,978 mcf per day in December, down 482 mcf per day, 13.94%, from a November average of 3,460 mcf per day and down 33.34% from a December 2024 average of 4,467 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Whiskey Gulch averaged 2,970 mcf per day in December, down 367 mcf per day, 11%, from a November average of 3,338 mcf per day. The field was not in production in December 2024.

Hilcorp's North Fork averaged 2,526 mcf per day in December, up 212 mcf per day, 9.18%, from a November average of 2,314 mcf per day and up 49.36% from a December 2024 average of 1,692 mcf per day. Hilcorp became North Fork operator effective May 2025.

Hilcorp's Ivan River averaged 2,401 mcf per day in December, down 21 mcf per day, 0.85%, from a November average of 2,422 mcf per day but up 119.16% from a December 2024 average of 1,096 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 2,255 mcf per day in December, down 29 mcf per day, 1.29%, from a November average of 2,285 mcf per day and down 22.77% from a December 2024 average of 2,920 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Lewis River averaged 1,546 mcf per day in December, down 265 mcf per day, 14.65%, from a November average of 1,811 mcf per day and down 39.08% from a December 2024 average of 2,538 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Trading Bay averaged 667 mcf per day in December, up 309 mcf per day, 86.05%, from a November average of 359 mcf per day but down 19.61% from a December 2024 average of 830 mcf per day.

BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 492 mcf per day in December, down 68 mcf per day, 12.12%, from a November average of 560 mcf per day and down 47.55% from a December 2024 average of 938 mcf per day.

Amaroq's Nicolai Creek averaged 221 mcf per day in December, up 37 mcf per day, 19.99%, from a November average of 184 mcf per day but down 32.86% from a December 2024 average of 329 mcf per day.

Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 179 mcf per day, down 6 mcf per day, 3.31%, from a November average of 185 mcf per day and down 27.29% from a December 2024 average of 246 mcf per day. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

CIE's Redoubt Shoal averaged 105 mcf per day in December, down 2 mcf per day, 2.09%, from a November average of 108 mcf per day, but up 161.15% from a December 2024 average of 40 mcf per day.

AIX's Kenai Loop averaged 28 mcf per day in December, up 2 mcf per day, 7.69%, from a November average of 26 mcf per day but down 98.51% from a December 2024 average of 1,880 mcf per day. The Alaska Division of Oil and Gas said in December that AIX has received approval from the division to suspend production and will begin regulatory work to convert the field from gas production to gas storage.

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

--KRISTEN NELSON