What Happened to Oil and what Happens Next?

A barrel of Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude oil was selling for $22.47 at the time this article was written. That’s down 67% from the beginning of the year. In terms of the state’s royalty oil, that price swing represents a reduction of almost $3 million per day. For the producers, it means that they[…]

Alaska by the Numbers – March 2020

March was a crazy month. It’s almost unbelievable how quickly the world changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some quick highlights about how Alaska’s finances and economy were impacted by the pandemic. The Stock Market Collapsed March began with the Dow at 26,703. By the end of the month, it was down[…]

Alaska’s Revenue Outlook

The Department of Revenue puts out a forecast of state revenues each December, which serves as a companion to the budget. The latest numbers are a few months old now, and an update should be released next month. However, the Spring update usually focuses more on adjusting the budget year than the long-term outlook. The[…]

The Official FY19 Oil Production Numbers are in

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC), the state agency which tracks oil production across Alaska, has released the last of the FY19 oil production data. All production companies are required to report the amount of oil, gas, and water they take out of the ground to AOGCC each month. Those numbers are all[…]

Guess Where Alaska Stands in the Oil Race

Back in the 1980’s Alaska was a powerhouse in the oil market. At the time, our young oil fields were the envy of our peers. Texas production was falling, approaching 2 million barrels per day from above as Alaska approached the same mark from below. Briefly, Alaska challenged Texas as the number one oil producing[…]

Alaska by the Numbers – FY19 Closing Edition

Now that my work with the new administration is done, I’m back to providing you with some light reading. Here’s your monthly breakdown of the things that I’ve been watching in Alaska’s Economy. Although, seeing as today is the first day of the new fiscal year, this edition provides insight into how fiscal year 2019[…]

Alaska North Slope 10-Year Oil Production Forecast

I gave you my projections of how oil production on the North Slope will look next fiscal year. But, the question most people really have is “what happens after that?” We’ve all heard about some major projects that are coming. So, what will that mean for the amount of oil flowing down the pipeline? (a[…]

Alaska by the Numbers – November Edition

Here’s the big news that broke last month, and how it impacts Alaska’s economy. GMT1 Production Started Ahead of Schedule ConocoPhillips announced that they started flowing oil from the Greater Moose’s Tooth Unit on October 5th. This is a full two months ahead of schedule. While initial flows are only around 8,000 barrels per day[…]

Don’t Listen to Sound-Bites, Oil Production is Up

If a bat and a ball cost $1.10 together, and the bat costs $1 more than the ball, how much does a ball cost? This is a classic riddle. I’m assuming you’ve seen it before. If you’re like most people, your mind quickly came up with $0.10 for the ball. Even if you’ve heard the[…]