Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 12
By Aygun Badalova - Trend: Total E&P Azerbaijan B.V. is to carry out a three-dimensional (3D) seismic exploration at the Absheron field in the Caspian Sea's Azerbaijani sector, the company's General Manager, Christian Giudicelli told journalists on Nov. 13 in Baku.
The 3D seismic exploration will be conducted for evaluation and further development for the optimisation of the wells' condition, he said.
Total E&P Azerbaijan B.V. is currently conducting geotechnical data collection, Giudicelli said. The assessment of the impact on the environment and social sphere at the field has been completed.
Giudicelli said the company is considering several development concepts and will then choose the most optimal one. By the end of next year, Total will introduce the concept of field development. The first gas from the field is expected by the end of 2020.
As a result of drilling the exploratory well, it was announced in September 2011 that the large Absheron gas field was opened in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
Potential reserves of the field amount to 350 billion cubic meters of gas and 45 million tons of condensate.
The Absheron project partners include the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Reoublic (SOCAR) - 40 per cent and French companies Total - 40 per cent and Gaz De France Suez - 20 per cent.
The contract on the Absheron structure was signed between SOCAR and Total on February 27, 2009. Later Total sold a 20 per cent equity participation to Gaz De France Suez.
