ANS production up 3.4%

Month-over-month increase, but 2.2% year-over-year decrease; Inlet volumes up

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Alaska North Slope liquids production for October averaged 469,988 barrels per day, up 15,472 bpd, 3.4%, from a September average of 454,516 bpd, but down 2.2% from an October 2022 average of 480,426 bpd.

ANS volumes include crude as well as natural gas liquids from three North Slope fields: Prudhoe Bay, Northstar and Endicott.

Crude averaged 417,085 bpd, 88.7% of October production, up 2.4%, 9,678 bpd, from a September average of 407,407 bpd, but down 2% from an October 2022 average of 425,644 bpd. NGLs, 11.3% of October volume, averaged 52,904 bpd, up 12.3%, 5,794 bpd, from a September average of 47,109 bpd, but down 3.4% from an October 2022 average of 54,782 bpd.

North Slope Borough temperature, as reported by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, averaged 18.8 degrees F in October, up 5.4 degrees from a 1925-2000 average of 13.4 degrees for October.

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

Month-over-month increases

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's Colville River averaged 34,498 bpd in October, up 1,733 bpd, 5.3%, from a September average of 32,765 bpd, but down 8.1% from an October 2022 average of 37,554 bpd. In addition to oil from the main Alpine pool, Colville includes production from the Nanuq and Qannik oil pools. The CD5 pad, the most westerly in the field. is the most productive, accounting for 48.9% of production in October.

The ConocoPhillips-operated Kuparuk River field averaged 80,169 bpd in October, up 853 bpd, 1.1%, from a September average of 79,316 bpd, but down 3.6% from an October 2022 average of 83,130 bpd. In addition to the main Kuparuk pool, Kuparuk produces from satellites at Tabasco and Tarn, and from West Sak.

Hilcorp Alaska's Northstar averaged 5,670 bpd in October, up 354 bpd, 6.7%, from a September average of 5,315 bpd, but down 18.6% from an October 2022 average of 6,965 bpd. Crude accounted for 55% of Northstar production in October, an average of 3,116 bpd, up 24 bpd, 0.8%, from a September average of 3,092 bpd, but down 15.9% from an October 2022 average of 3,703 bpd. Northstar NGLs averaged 2,554 bpd in October, 45% of total volume, up 330 bpd, 14.9%, from a September average of 2,224 bpd, but down 21.7% from an October 2022 average of 3,262 bpd.

Hilcorp Alaska-operated Point Thomson averaged 3,038 bpd in October, up 52 bpd, 1.7%, from a September average of 2,987 bpd, but down 62% from an October 2022 average of 7,987 bpd.

Savant Alaska's Badami averaged 939 bpd in October, up 36 bpd, 4%, from a September average of 903 bpd and up 81.7% from an October 2022 average of 517 bpd. Savant Alaska is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Month-over-month decreases

Hilcorp Alaska's Milne Point averaged 41,644 bpd in October, down 754 bpd, 1.8%, from a September average of 42,398 bpd, but up 17.7% from an October 2022 average of 35,397 bpd. Milne Point produces primarily from the Schrader Bluff and Kuparuk oil pools, with minor Sag River and Ugnu volumes.

Hilcorp Alaska-operated Endicott averaged 5,892 bpd in October, down 323 bpd, 5.2%, from a September average of 6,215 bpd, and down 14.7% from an October 2022 average of 6,911 bpd. Crude oil accounted for 5,080 bpd, 86.2% of Endicott's October volumes, down 368 bpd, 6.8%, from a September 2022 average of 5,448 bpd and down 17.3% from an October 2022 average of 6,143 bpd. Endicott NGLs averaged 812 bpd in October, 13.8% of total volume, up 45 bpd, 5.9%, from a September average of 767 bpd and up 5.8% from an October 2022 average of 768 bpd.

Eni's Oooguruk averaged 6,488 bpd in October, down 259 bpd, 3.8%, from a September average of 6,748 bpd and down 2.4% from an October 2022 average of 6,645 bpd.

Eni's Nikaitchuq averaged 16,013 bpd in October, down 181 bpd, 1.1%, from a September average of 16,194 bpd and down 5.5% from an October 2022 average of 16,940 bpd.

Cook Inlet liquids up 11.6%

The largest month-over-month increase was at Hilcorp Alaska's McArthur River, the inlet's largest crude producer, which averaged 2,690 bpd in October, up 535 bpd, 24.8%, from a September average of 2,155 bpd but down 10.5% from an October 2022 average of 3,006 bpd.

Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 927 bpd in October, up 149 bpd, 19.1%, from a September average of 778 bpd and up 132.8% from an October 2022 average of 398 bpd. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 712 bpd in October (666 bpd of crude and 46 bpd of natural gas liquids), up 118 bpd, 19.9%, from a September average of 594 bpd but down 9.8% from an October 2022 average of 788 bpd.

Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 2,208 bpd in October, up 116 bpd, 5.5%, from a September average of 2,093 bpd but down 5.9% from an October 2022 average of 2,347 bpd.

CIE's Redoubt Shoal averaged 515 bpd in October, up 43 bpd, 9.2%, from a September average of 471 bpd but down 28.1% from an October 2022 average of 716 bpd.

Hilcorp's Trading Bay averaged 891 bpd in October, down 23 bpd, 2.5%, from a September average of 914 bpd but up 9% from an October 2022 average of 817 bpd.

Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 287 bpd in October, down 8 bpd, 2.8%, from a September average of 295 bpd and down 49.3% from an October 2022 average of 565 bpd.

BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 700 bpd in October, down 3 bpd, 0.4%, from a September average of 703 bpd and down 5.8% from an October 2022 average of 743 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 natural gas up 4.5%

Volumes are calculated from Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission data which is reported on a month-delay basis. For natural gas AOGCC reports measurements in thousands of cubic feet, mcf.

Seven fields, each with 5% or more of the total volume, represent 84.2% of October production, 170,661 mcf per day: Beluga River, Ninilchik, North Cook Inlet, Kenai, McArthur River, Beaver Creek and Kitchen Lights.

The Hilcorp Alaska-operated Beluga River field (Chugach Electric Association is the majority working interest owner) averaged 39,415 mcf per day in October, 19.4% of inlet production, up 701 mcf per day, 1.8%, from a September average of 38,714 mcf per day, and up 20.5% from an October 2022 average of 32,699 mcf per day. Beluga River, along with Ninilchik, has seen considerable drilling over the last year, with six development wells completed and three more permitted.

Hilcorp Alaska's Ninilchik averaged 38,874 mcf per day in October, 19.2% of inlet production, up 2,029 mcf per day, 5.5%, from a September average of 36,845 mcf per day, but down 0.3% from an October 2022 average of 38,979 mcf per day. Hilcorp has completed three development wells at Ninilchik in the last year, two from the Pearl pad and one from Paxton, and has permitted an exploration well, Pearl 8.

Hilcorp's North Cook Inlet averaged 36,013 mcf per day in October, 17.8% of inlet production, up 1,317 mcf per day, 3.8%, from a September average of 34,696 mcf per day, but down 17.3% from an October 2022 average of 43,548 mcf per day. Hilcorp has completed one development well at North Cook Inlet in the last year, with three more permitted.

Hilcorp's Kenai gas field averaged 19,358 mcf per day in October, 9.6% of inlet production, down 60 mcf per day, 0.3%, from a September average of 19,418 mcf per day and down 18.6% from an October 2022 average of 23,789 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's McArthur River averaged 13,572 mcf per day in October, 6.7% of inlet production, up 286 mcf per day, 2.2%, from a September average of 13,285 mcf per day, but down 21.5% from an October 2022 average of 17,277 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Beaver Creek averaged 12,461 mcf per day in October, 6.1% of inlet production, up 2,094 mcf per day, 20.2%, from a September average of 10,368 mcf per day and up 13.6% from an October 2022 average of 10,969 mcf per day. Hilcorp completed one development well at Beaver Creek over the year.

Furie's Kitchen Lights averaged 10,968 mcf per day in October, 5.4% of inlet production, down 97 mcf per day, 0.9%, from a September average of 11,065 mcf per day and down 3.5% from an October 2022 average of 11,362 mcf per day.

Fifteen smaller producing fields accounted for just over 15% of inlet production in October.

Hilcorp's Swanson River averaged 5,657 mcf per day in October, down 642 mcf per day, 10.2%, from a September average of 6,299 mcf per day and down 20.7% from an October 2022 average of 7,132 mcf per day. Hilcorp completed two development wells at Swanson River over the year and has another permitted.

Hilcorp's Ivan River averaged 5,291 mcf per day in October, up 543 mcf per day, 11.4%, from a September average of 4,748 mcf per day, but down 42% from an October 2022 average of 9,121 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Cannery Loop averaged 4,913 mcf per day in October, down 186 mcf per day from a September average of 5,099 mcf per day and down 3.7% from an October 2022 average of 5,931 mcf per day. Hilcorp completed two development wells at Cannery Loop over the year.

Hilcorp's Deep Creek averaged 3,583 mcf per day in October, down 102 mcf per day, 2.8%, from a September average of 3,685 mcf per day and down 13.8% from an October 2022 average of 4,156 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Granite Point averaged 3,226 mcf per day in October, up 87 mcf per day, 2.8%, from a September average of 3,139 mcf per day, but down 6% from an October 2022 average of 3,434 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Lewis River averaged 2,281 mcf per day in October, up 1,914 mcf per day, 521.4%, from a September average of 367 mcf per day and up 292.3% from an October 2022 average of 581 mcf per day. Hilcorp completed one development well at Lewis River over the year.

AIX's Kenai Loop averaged 2,228 mcf per day in October, up 917 mcf per day, 69.9%, from a September average of 1,311 mcf per day, but down 37.5% from an October 2022 average of 3,565 mcf per day.

Vision Operating's North Fork averaged 2,149 mcf per day in October, down 69 mcf per day, 3.1%, from a September average of 2,218 mcf per day and down 31.2% from an October 2022 average of 3,126 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Trading Bay averaged 1,124 mcf per day in October, up 30 mcf per day, 2.8%, from a September average of 1,094 mcf per day and up 3.2% from an October 2022 average of 1,089 mcf per day. Hilcorp completed one development well at Trading Bay over the year.

BlueCrest's Hansen averaged 938 mcf per day in October, down 26 mcf per day, 2.7%, from a September average of 964 mcf per day and down 26.5% from an October 2022 average of 1,276 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Nikolaevsk averaged 232 mcf per day in October, down 5 mcf per day, 2%, from a September average of 237 mcf per day and down 7.5% from an October 2022 average of 251 mcf per day.

Cook Inlet Energy's West McArthur River averaged 222 mcf per day in October, up 32 mcf per day, 16.7%, from a September average of 190 mcf per day and up 147.5% from an October 2022 average of 90 mcf per day. CIE is a Glacier Oil and Gas company.

Amaroq's Nicolai Creek averaged1 159 mcf per day in October, down 114 mcf per day, 41.6%, from a September average of 273 mcf per day, and down 46.9% from an October 2022 average of 300 mcf per day.

Hilcorp's Pretty Creek averaged 14 mcf per day in October, up 13 mcf per day from an average of 1 mcf per day in September; the field had no production in October 2022.

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

--KRISTEN NELSON

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