BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. bp, as the operator of gas and condensate production from the Caspian Shah Deniz field, plans to start the implementation of a project to create a special compressor platform for extracting additional gas from the contract area in the second quarter of 2025, Vice President for the Caspian region, Communications and External Affairs at bp Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli told Trend.
"We are working to extend the period of stable production at Shah Deniz and obtain additional volumes of gas to increase its sales. To achieve this, we plan to build a new compressor platform, which we believe is a technically feasible and cost-effective solution," he noted.
Aslanbayli added that the platform will be operatorless and remote-controlled, managed from the Sangachal onshore terminal via a high-voltage electric cable.
"The project for the compressor platform is being developed, and its implementation will start in the second quarter of 2025. This project represents the so-called third phase of Shah Deniz development, and this field plays a significant role in Azerbaijan's gas future," the vice president noted.
Shah Deniz produced 14 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the first half of 2024, operating at peak production.
Gas and condensate production from Shah Deniz has been underway since December 2006, with a total of 223 billion cubic meters of gas and 46.6 million tons of condensate recovered over the entire period.
"The current year is a year of significant accomplishments for us. In February, we reached an important milestone by starting gas and condensate production from the first well on the remaining fifth wing of Shah Deniz - the northeast wing. We plan to start operating two more wells on this wing within a year, which will allow us to fulfill our commitments to supply gas from Azerbaijan to world markets," Aslanbayli noted.
He reminded that a total of 21 wells have been drilled within the full-scale development of Shah Deniz phase-2: five wells on the northern wing, four wells on the western wing, four wells on the southeastern wing, five wells on the southwestern wing, and three wells on the northeastern wing.
bp's vice president for the Caspian region also referred to the realization of other gas production projects in Azerbaijan.
"In parallel with the project to increase production at Shah Deniz through a future compressor platform, we are also exploring potential new sources of gas beyond this giant field. For example, we are very optimistic about potential natural gas deposits in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field block and will start drilling the first production well there this year to produce the first gas in 2025. Additionally, we are evaluating the hydrocarbon reserves found in the SAX01 well in the Shafag-Asiman Caspian block and planning future activities," he said.
Aslanbayli recalled that the drilling of the first exploration well, SAX01, was completed in March 2021.
"This well reached a depth of 7,189 meters at the base of the productive Fasil Formation. Gas condensate reserves were encountered in some of the drilled intervals. We have processed all the data received and interpreted the results. We are planning future actions," explained bp's vice president.
According to him, bp will continue to support Azerbaijan in realizing its plans to increase gas exports.
Azerbaijan exported a total of 12.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in the first half of the year, primarily from Shah Deniz, an increase of 0.7 bcm compared to January-June 2023.
Overall, Azerbaijan's gas exports in 2024 are projected to reach 25 bcm, up from 23.8 bcm in 2023.