By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 27 -- Kuparuk River oil field on Alaska's North Slope produced its 2 billionth bbl of oil July 20, reported ConocoPhillips. Kuparuk, in operation since 1981, is the US's second largest producing oil field.
Production from the Greater Kuparuk River Area, including the nearby fields of Tarn, Tabasco, West Sak, and Meltwater, is about 185,000 b/d of oil gross.
ConocoPhillips is developing a large, shallow, heavy oil accumulation from West Sak field that overlies much of the Kuparuk River field. Plans calls for the $500 million heavy oil development program to include two Kuparuk River drillsites.
ConocoPhillips Alaska operates the Greater Kuparuk River Area and owns a 55% interest. Partners are BP Exploration Alaska Inc., Unocal Corp., and ExxonMobil Corp. The owners have invested about $7 billion.