Economics of Prudhoe Bay Field—A Comparison with Bell Creek Field1
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Published:January 01, 1973
Abstract
An economic model of Prudhoe Bay field based on the discounted cash-flow method uses the following assumptions: (1) 7.5 billion bbl of recoverable oil, (2) an average initial producing rate of 4,000 bbl per well per day, (3) a peak production rate of 1.6 million bbl per day, and (4) a discount factor of 15 percent. The model gives a producing cost (no exploratory or lease costs included) of $0.28/bbl. A similar economic model for the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline gives a pipeline cost of $0.45/bbl for transport from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. Tanker costs from Valdez to Los Angeles are estimated at $0.30/bbl.
For comparative purposes, a model of Bell Creek field, Montana, was made along the same lines as the Prudhoe Bay model. Actual producing rates of Bell Creek field were used, and the expected ultimate recovery was assumed to be 150 million bbl. The model gives a cost of production at Bell Creek of $0.58/bbl.
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Arctic Geology

Following the discovery of Prudhoe Bay oil field in 1968, much attention was turned to the Arctic in the search for giant hydrocarbon accumulations. The Soviets had already proved giant reserves in their West Siberian Basin, and exploration was moving ahead quickly in the Canadian Arctic. Plans were drawn up for an AAPG Symposium on Arctic Geology and held in February 1971. Papers were selected from the Symposium for this publication and cover seven topical groupings: Regional Arctic Geology of Canada, Regional Arctic Geology of the Nordic Countries, Regional Arctic Geology of the USSR, Regional Arctic Geology of Alaska, Comparisons in the North Atlantic Borders, Evolution of the Arctic Ocean Basin, and Economics of Petroleum Exploration and Production in the Arctic.