May ANS production steady at 479,361 bpd

Largest month-over-month increases at Milne, Kuparuk; overall up 4% year over year; volumes now include barrels from Pikka testing

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Alaska North Slope production averaged 479,361 barrels per day in May, up 0.3%, 716 bpd, from an April average of 477,907 bpd and up 3.96% from a May 2024 average of 461,101 bpd. Crude averaged 426,426 bpd, 88.96% of the total, up 1,504 bpd, 0.35%, from an April average of 424,922 bpd and up 4.41% from a May 2024 average of 408,423 bpd. Natural gas liquids averaged 52,936 bpd in May, 11.04% of the total, down 50 bpd, 0.09%, from an April average of 52,986 bpd but up 0.49% from a May 2024 average of 52,678 bpd.

The North Slope Borough temperature averaged 25.6 degrees F in May, up from an April average of 97 degrees F and down 0.7 degrees F from a 1925-2025 mean for May of 26.3 degrees F.

Production data come from the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission which reports production by field and well on a month delay basis.

AOGCC is now reporting volumes from Pikka as Oil Search tests its new wells. The field is not in production, but the test volumes are included in the ANS total beginning with September 2023 data.

Temperature data are from the county time series maintained by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, which has North Slope Borough temperatures beginning in 1925.

Month-over-month increases

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

The ConocoPhillips Alaska-operated Kuparuk River field averaged 88,613 bpd in May, up 1,724 bpd, 1.98%, from an April average of 86,889 bpd and up 16.25% from a May 2024 average of 76,224 bpd.

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

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

AOGCC is now including test production volumes for Pikka in its monthly data releases.

The field, operated by Oil Search, is not yet online. Test volumes from Pikka averaged 881 bpd in May, up 737 bpd, 512.8%, from an April average of 155 bpd, and up 2,297.81% from a May 2024 average of 37 bpd, with figures reflecting volumes for tests ranging from one to nine days and total volume to date 228,326 barrels.

AOGCC shows first test production in September 2023 -- the only Pikka volumes shown for that year -- and becoming regular in 2024 and 2025, with just two months in 2024 showing no volumes.

ConocoPhillips Alaska's Colville River averaged 33,967 bpd in May, up 597 bpd, 1.79%, from an April average of 33,370 bpd, but down 9.63% from a May 2024 average of 37,587 bpd.

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

Mustang Holding's Southern Miluveach averaged 510 bpd in May, up 55 bpd, 12.12%, from an April average of 455 bpd. The field was not in production in May of 2024; it began regular production in December 2024 and is producing from a single well.

Hilcorp Alaska-operated Point Thomson averaged 4,258 bpd in May, up 25 bpd, 0.59%, from an April average of 4,233 bpd and up 108.5% from a May 2024 average of 2,042 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%.

Month-over-month declines

GMT produces from two pools, Lookout and Rendezvous, with Rendezvous accounting for the majority of the oil, 95% in both April and May, and both pools showing month-over-month declines.

Hilcorp Alaska's Endicott averaged 5,307 bpd in May, down 528 bpd, 9.05%, from an April average of 5,835 bpd, but up 1.52% from a May 2024 average of 5,228 bpd. Endicott crude averaged 4,756 bpd in May, 89.62% of the field's production, down 384 bpd, 7.48%, from an April average of 5,140 bpd but up 0.55% from a May 2024 average of 4,730 bpd. Endicott NGLs averaged 551 bpd in May, 10.38% of the total, down 144 bpd, 20.68%, from an April average of 695 bpd but up 10.76% from a May 2024 average of 497 bpd.

Hilcorp Alaska's Northstar averaged 4,719 bpd in May, down 313 bpd, 6.23%, from an April average of 5,033 bpd and down 11.21% from a May 2024 average of 5,315 bpd. Northstar crude averaged 2,368 bpd in May, 50.18% of the field's total, down 187 bpd, 7.3%, from an April average of 2,554 bpd and down 18.06% from a May 2024 average of 2,890 bpd. Northstar NGLs averaged 2,351 bpd in May, 49.82% of the total, down 127 bpd, 5.12%, from an April average of 2,478 bpd and down 3.05% from a May 2024 average of 2,425 bpd.

The Hilcorp North Slope-operated Prudhoe Bay field, the Slope's largest, averaged 252,390 bpd in May, down 308 bpd, 0.12%, from an April average of 252,698 bpd and down 3.26% from a May 2024 average of 260,892 bpd. Prudhoe crude averaged 202,357 bpd, 80.18% of the field's total, down 529 bpd, 0.26%, from an April average of 202,886 bpd and down 4.16% from a May 2024 average of 211,137 bpd. Prudhoe NGLs averaged 50,033 bpd in May, 19.82% of the total, up 220 bpd, 0.44%, from an April average of 49,813 bpd and up 0.56% from a May 2024 average of 49,755 bpd.

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%; operator Hilcorp North Slope holds 27.1%.

Hilcorp Alaska's Nikaitchuq averaged 17,238 bpd in May, down 289 bpd, 1.65%, from an April average of 17,527 bpd, but up 22.46% from a May 2024 average of 14,076 bpd. Hilcorp acquired Nikaitchuq in November 2024.

Savant Alaska's Badami averaged 2,423 bpd in May, down 288 bpd, 10.61%, from an April average of 2,710 bpd, but up 180.72% from a May 2024 average of 863 bpd. Savant is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Hilcorp Alaska's Oooguruk averaged 6,304 bpd in May, down 84 bpd, 1.31%, from an April average of 6,388 bpd, but up 9.53% from a May 2024 average of 5,756 bpd. Hilcorp Alaska acquired Oooguruk in November 2024.

Cook Inlet production flat

Hilcorp Alaska's McArthur River averaged 2,398 bpd, up 40 bpd,1.69%, from an April average of 2,358 bpd, and up 1.14% from a May 2024 average of 2,371 bpd.

Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 1,586 bpd in May, down 206 bpd, 11.52%, from an April average of 1,792 bpd, and down 25.71% from a May 2024 average of 2,135 bpd.

Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 945 bpd in May, up 141 bpd, 17.49%, from an April average of 804 bpd and up 12.5% from a May 2024 average of 840 bpd. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Hilcorp's Trading Bay averaged 754 bpd in May, down 26 bpd, 3.35%, from an April average of 780 bpd and down 17.35% from a May 2024 average of 912 bpd.

Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 653 bpd in May, 99.69% crude, 0.31% NGLs, down 65 bpd, 9.01%, from an April average of 717 bpd and down 11.44% from a May 2024 average of 737 bpd.

CIE's Redoubt Shoal averaged 618 bpd in May, up 100 bpd, 19.31%, from an April average of 518 bpd, but down 0.98% from a May 2024 average of 624 bpd. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 519 bpd in May, down 2 bpd, 0.31%, from an April average of 521 bpd and down 23.24% from a May 2024 average of 676 bpd.

Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 124 bpd in May, up 17 bpd, 15.83%, from an April average of 107 bpd but down 52.78% from a May 2024 average of 262 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.

Inlet gas down slightly

The six most productive fields, each producing 5% or more of the total volume, accounted for 80.76% of inlet production in May, 156,561 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.

The Hilcorp Alaska-operated Beluga River field averaged 42,435 mcf per day in May, 21.89% of the total, up 153 mcf per day, 0.36%, from an April average of 42,281 mcf per day but down 3.92% from a May 2024 average of 44,168 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's North Cook Inlet averaged 38,440 mcf per day in May, 19.83% of the total, down 1,798 mcf per day, 4.47%, from an April average of 40,238 mcf per day and down 4% from a May 2024 average of 40,039 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Ninilchik averaged 33,135 mcf per day in May, 17.09% of the total, down 1,114 mcf per day, 3.25%, from an April average of 34,249 mcf per day and down 0.35% from a May 2024 total of 33,252 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Kenai field averaged 17,849 mcf per day in May, 9.21% of the total, up 130 mcf per day, 0.73%, from an April average of 17,719 mcf per day but down 14.97% from a May 2024 average of 20,991 mcf per day.

Furie's Kitchen Lights averaged 13,448 mcf per day in May, 6.94% of the total, up 909 mcf per day, 7.25%, from an April average of 12,539 mcf per day and up 27.34% from a May 2024 average of 10,560 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's McArthur River averaged 11,255 mcf per day in May, 5.81% of the total, down 159 mcf per day, 1.39%, from an April average of 11,414 mcf per day and down 4.37% from a May 2024 average of 11,769 mcf per day.

Sixteen smaller fields made up 19.24% of inlet gas production.

Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 7,594 mcf per day in May, down 665 mcf per day, 8.05%, from an April average of 8,259 mcf per day and down 31.23% from a May 2024 average of 11,042 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 5,466 mcf per day in May, up 135 mcf per day, 2.53%, from an April average of 5,331 mcf per day, but down 35.73% from a May 2024 average of 8,505 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Deep Creek averaged 4,265 mcf per day in May, up 674 mcf per day, 18.77%, from an April average of 3,591 mcf per day and up 26.11% from a May 2024 average of 3,382 mcf per day. Hilcorp has been drilling at Deep Creek, going from eight producing wells in March to 10 in April and May.

Hilcorp's Cannery Loop averaged 4,237 bpd in May, down 85 mcf per day, 1.98%, from an April average of 4,322 mcf per day and down 11.7% from a May 2024 average of 4,798 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Ivan River averaged 3,719 mcf per day in May, up 1,806 mcf per day, 94.44%, from an April average of 1,913 mcf per day and up 66.37% from a May 2024 average of 2,235 mcf per day. Hilcorp had three wells online at the field in May, up from two in April.

Hilcorp's Lewis River averaged 2,417 mcf per day in May, up 123 mcf per day, 5.37%, from an April average of 2,294 mcf per day but down 34.16% from a May 2024 average of 3,672 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 2,176 mcf per day in May, down 514 mcf per day, 19.11%, from an April average of 2,689 mcf per day and down 30.04% from a May 2024 average of 3,110 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's North Fork averaged 1,804 mcf per day in May, up 129 mcf per day, 7.72%, from an April average of 1,675 mcf per day, but down 5.23% from a May 2024 average of 1,903 mcf per day.

AIX's Kenai Loop averaged 1,753 mcf per day in May, down 14 mcf per day, 0.77%, from an April average of 1,766 mcf per day and down 10.83% from a May 2024 average of 1,965 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Pretty Creek averaged 1,639 mcf per day in May, down 105 mcf per day, 6%, from an April average of 1,744 mcf per day. The field was not online in May 2024.

Hilcorp's Trading Bay averaged 631 mcf per day in May, down 124 mcf per day, 16.47%, from an April average of 755 mcf per day and down 5.67% from a May 2024 average of 669 mcf per day.

BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 609 mcf per day in May, up 18 mcf per day, 2.96%, from an April average of 592 mcf per day but down 49.99% from a May 2024 average of 1,218 mcf per day.

Amaroq's Nicolai Creek averaged 418 mcf per day in May, up 103 mcf per day, 32.53%, from an April average of 316 mcf per day and up 51.45% from a May 2024 average of 276 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Nikolaevsk averaged 222 mcf per day in May, up 179 mcf per day, 416.73%, from an April average of 43 mcf per day, and up 224.76% from a May 2024 average of 68 mcf per day.

Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 212 mcf per day in May, down 32 mcf per day, 13.09%, from an April average of 244 mcf per day, but flat from a May 2024 average of 212 mcf per day. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

CIE's Redoubt Shoal averaged 132 mcf per day in May, down 1 mcf per day, 0.51%, from an April average of 133 mcf per day and down 17.42% from a May 2024 average of 160 mcf per day.

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

--KRISTEN NELSON

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