Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 18
By Emil Ismayilov - Trend:
The Absheron gas condensate field development program in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea is expected to be approved by late 2014, SOCAR head Rovnag Abdullayev told reporters Sept. 17.
"The development program has already been prepared," he said. "Currently, last operations are underway."
It was earlier reported that the first gas from the Absheron gas condensate field can be obtained only in 4-5 years. The main issue in the field development is a free floating drilling rig.
"This project is also difficult because the field is located at great sea depth," Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev said earlier. "But I believe that the experience we have gained will allow us to successfully put the Absheron field into operation."
Taking into account the plans to get the first gas at the Absheron field, all issues must be resolved in 2014. The construction of a platform which will serve the field can be launched in late 2015.
The operations carried out within this project aim at extracting 5 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
It was announced about discovering the Absheron large gas field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea in September 2011 following the exploration well drilling.
The potential reserves of the field are 350 billion cubic meters of gas and 45 million metric tons of condensate.
"Absheron" project participants are SOCAR - 40 percent, French Total - 40 percent and Gaz De France Suez - 20 percent.
SOCAR and Total signed the contract on the Absheron field on February 27, 2009. Later, Total gave in 20 percent equity stake in the contract of Gaz De France Suez.
