ANS crude output up 2.6%, at highest level since June

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News Editor-in-Chief

Driven by colder fall temperatures, relatively little maintenance downtime and high production levels at both Alpine and Northstar, Alaska North Slope crude oil production averaged 970,157 barrels per day in September, up 2.56 percent from an August average of 945,956 bpd, and the highest production has been since June when it averaged 1,009,054 bpd.

North Slope facilities which handle the natural gas produced with crude oil operate more efficiently when it is colder, and the Alaska Department of Revenue said the average September temperature at pump station No. 1 on the North Slope was 35.7 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to a three-year September average of 38.2 degrees F, and continuing a seasonal temperature drop from an average of 51.6 degrees in July.

The department reported fewer days of downtime than in recent months: a planned two-day shutdown at Northstar Sept. 4; an unplanned slowdown Sept. 6-7 at greater Point McIntyre, processed through the Lisburne facility, while a leak in a common line was corrected; and planned facility maintenance at Endicott Sept. 28-30.

Production from the North Slope's two newest fields, Alpine and Northstar, drove the September increase, accounting for 20,600 bpd of a 24,200 bpd September over August increase.

Alpine, operated by 78 percent working interest owner ConocoPhillips Alaska, averaged 104,968 bpd in September, up 14.54 percent from an August average of 91,640 bpd, and its second highest monthly average, topped only by 105,032 bpd in March. The field came on line in November 2000.

Northstar, operated by 98 percent working interest owner BP Exploration (Alaska), also had its second-highest average month in September, topped only by 71,252 bpd this June. It averaged 68,662 bpd in September, up 11.85 percent from an August average of 61,389 bpd. Northstar began production in November 2001.

The largest production increase was at Lisburne (part of Prudhoe Bay, includes Point McIntyre, Niakuk and West Beach production), operated by 27 percent working interest owner BP Exploration (Alaska). It averaged 56,198 bpd in September, up 41.72 percent from an August average of 39,654 bpd, a production level caused by partial shutdown for facility maintenance Aug. 14-27.

Production also increased at Milne Point (which includes Schrader Bluff and Sag River production). Operated by 100 percent working interest owner BP Exploration (Alaska), Milne Point averaged 54,538 bpd in September, up 4.37 percent from an August average of 52,256 bpd.

Endicott production (includes Sag River and Eider) had the largest production drop, averaging 27,366 bpd for September, down 9.58 percent from an August average of 30,264 bpd. Badami, previously counted in the Endicott total, ceased production in early August. Endicott is operated by 68 percent working interest owner BP Exploration (Alaska).

Kuparuk, Prudhoe, Cook Inlet production down

The Prudhoe Bay field (including production from western field satellites Midnight Sun, Aurora, Polaris, Borealis and Orion), and operated by 27 percent working interest owner BP Exploration (Alaska), averaged 447,572 bpd in September, down 1.58 percent from an August average of 454,761 bpd.

Cook Inlet production, from a variety of onshore and offshore fields operated by Unocal and Forest Oil, averaged 27,970 bpd in September, down 3.14 percent from an August average of 28,878 bpd.