North Slope production up for August; inlet down

Kristen Nelson, PNA editor-in-chief

Alaska North Slope production averaged 974,873 barrels per day in August, up 4.3 percent (40,394 bpd) from July, when the trans-Alaska pipeline was down at the end of the month for scheduled maintenance. ANS production remained low — below 890,000 bpd — Aug. 1-3 as production ramped up after the July maintenance.

Kuparuk River (including production from West Sak, Tabasco, Tarn and Meltwater) had the largest increase in production, averaging 212,552 bpd in August, up 7.72 percent from an average of 197,328 bpd in July. Alpine production (including Nanuq) averaged 100,853 bpd in August, up 6.05 percent from a July average of 95,096 bpd, and Northstar averaged 59,634 bpd in August, up 4.2 percent from a July average of 57,221 bpd. The Department of Revenue said Northstar had an output reduction Aug. 18.

Prudhoe Bay production (including Midnight Sun, Aurora, Polaris and Borealis) averaged 461,294 bpd in August, up 3.68 percent from a July average of 444,938 bpd. Endicott production (including Sag Delta, Eider and Badami) averaged 27,754 bpd in August, up 2.16 percent from a July average of 27,167.

Lisburne production (including Point McIntyre, Niakuk, West Beach and North Prudhoe Bay State) averaged 65,253 bpd in August, up 0.61 percent from a July average of 64,855 bpd.

Milne Point (including Schrader Bluff and Sag River) was the only North Slope field where production dropped, averaging 47,533 bpd in August, down 0.71 percent from a July average of 47,874 bpd.

Cook Inlet production averaged 30,722 bpd in August, down 4.44 percent from a July average of 32,151 bpd.