SOCAR works to transfer associated gas without losses
By Aynur Karimova
Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR is conducting a series of construction and renovation tasks to improve the selection of associated gas in the onshore fields of Azerbaijan and its transfer to the gas transportation system without losses, the company reported on August 31.
Associated gas is gas produced as a byproduct of the production of crude oil. Associated gas reserves are typically developed during the production of crude oil, which pays for field development costs.
Some six compressors with a gas cooling system in each, a separator and gas meters were built to compress and inject low-pressure associated gas in full volume. Also, a transformer substation, a system of external power supply, operations room, water supply and domestic sewage systems were constructed at Garabaghli field, which is being developed by Salyan Oil Company.
These measures have enabled the collection and injection of associated gas into the transport system at a volume of 50,000 cubic meters per day.
A new compressor station, consisting of two modern installations each with a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters per day, was installed in place of an outdated compressor station for the transfer of associated gas to the Balakhani Operating Company.
A separator for gas purification was installed at the inputs and outputs of the compressors. The station is equipped with the most modern electrical, control, and measuring devices.
SOCAR also plans to replace its obsolete gas meters, to construct installations for the purification of associated gas from the liquid and solid admixtures, and build a pressure regulator and odorization installation at the contract area of the Karasu Operating Company.
Every year, around 140 billion cubic meters of natural gas produced together with oil is wastefully burned or “flared” at thousands of oil fields around the world, according to the World Bank. This results in more than 300 million tons of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere—equivalent to emissions from approximately 77 million cars.
If this amount of associated gas were used for power generation, it could provide more electricity than the entire African continent consumes per day.
The volume of associated gas production at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli block of oil and gas fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea stood at 109 billion cubic meters from November 1997 to June 2015.
In 2015, SOCAR expects production of associated gas on the ACG block at 13.8 billion cubic meters, a significant rise from the 12.5 billion cubic meters produced last year.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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