Kuparuk River Oil Field


The Kuparuk River Oil Field, or Kuparuk, located in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States, is the second largest oil field in North America by area. It produces approximately of oil and is estimated to have of recoverable oil reserves. It is named for the Kuparuk River.
Kuparuk was discovered by Sinclair Oil in April 1969 at the Ugnu Number 1 well, named for the nearby Ugnuravik River. Oil was found in the Kuparuk sandstone on the Colville structure. Production was first announced by ARCO in 1979 and planned to start in 1982. Production actually began December 13, 1981, on five small gravel drilling pads. Production was expected to peak in 1986 at, but did not peak until 1992 at.

Climate

Kuparuk River Oil Field has a Tundra climate because the warmest month has an average temperature between and.