Alaska North Slope Oil Production Surges to 14-Year High

Alaska's North Slope oil production has surged to its highest level in 14 years, reaching a daily reading of 551,247 barrels. This significant jump is largely attributed to the new production from the Pikka oil field, which began continuous production in June and reached about 40,000 barrels per day by early September.

The latest figures surpass not only August's average but also the 500,000-barrel mark, providing a promising sign for Alaska's petroleum industry. According to Steve Wackowski, president and CEO of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, 'The North Slope renaissance is real, and we're seeing it in the barrels flowing through TAPS.'

The monthly numbers show a gradual improvement, with August production averaging 458,836 barrels per day, up about 0.6% from July and nearly 9% from August 2025. The Department of Revenue's spring forecast anticipated a substantial increase as new developments entered production, projecting North Slope output to average 459,200 barrels per day in fiscal year 2026 and 518,500 barrels per day in fiscal year 2027.

Looking ahead, the department forecasts production exceeding 600,000 barrels per day in fiscal year 2032 and 650,000 barrels per day in fiscal year 2034. A daily reading above 551,000 barrels is a significant milestone, with the last time Alaska North Slope crude production averaged more than 550,000 barrels per day being March 2012.