Aurora Field Starts Commercial Production.

• Position: Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

The Aurora field, an accumulation near the Prudhoe Bay field, has started commercial production at an initial rate of 7,000 barrels of oil per day from three wells. Production is expected to increase to a peak rate of 15,000 to 20,000 barrels per day as field development continues.

The field, which contains an estimated 30 million to 45 million barrels of recoverable oil, is owned by BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. (26.7 percent), ExxonMobil (36.8 percent), Phillips Alaska Inc. (36.5 percent) and Forest Oil Corp. (.02 percent). BP, as Prudhoe Bay field operator, will operate the field on behalf of the Aurora owners.

Development is from...