North Slope production edges up, led by Northstar

Kristen Nelson

PNA Editor-in-Chief

The volume of Alaska North Slope crude oil production changed very little from February to March, edging up 0.39 percent, an increase of 4,058 barrels a day. ANS production averaged 1,055,952 barrels per day in March, compared to 1,051,894 bpd in February.

The Alaska Department of Revenue said ANS production dipped March 2 and 4 related to trans-Alaska pipeline vapor pressure adjustments at all fields.

The largest percentage and per-barrel growth was at Northstar, which began producing in November. The field averaged 50,201 bpd in March, up 38.9 percent (14,061 bpd) from February.

Production at Lisburne (including Point McIntyre, Niakuk, West Beach and North Prudhoe Bay State), averaged only 60,296 bpd in March, down 16.76 percent (12,138 bpd) from February. Revenue said compressor work was done at Lisburne mid-month.

Prudhoe Bay production (including Midnight Sun, Aurora, Polaris and Borealis) averaged 548,376 bpd in March, up 0.14 percent (762 barrels) from February. Kuparuk River production (including West Sak, Tabasco, Tarn and Meltwater) averaged 218,922 bpd in March, up 2.95 percent (6,267 bpd) from February.

All other North Slope fields had decreased production from February to March.

Milne Point (including Schrader Bluff and Sag River) averaged 49,177 bpd in March, down 3.61 percent (1,844 bpd) from February. Endicott (including Sag Delta, Eider and Badami) averaged 33,625 bpd in March, down 0.02 percent (7 barrels) from February. Alpine averaged 95,355 bpd in March, down 3.09 percent (3,043 bpd) from February.

Prudhoe Bay natural gas liquids production averaged 48,095 bpd in March, down 4.39 percent (2,210 bpd) from February.

The average March temperature at Pump Station No. 1 was -0.9 degrees F, compared to an average temperature in February of -14.4 degrees F.

Cook Inlet production averaged 31,352 bpd in March, down 0.88 percent (277 barrels) from February.