BP resumes oil extraction from Chirag platform
By Aynur Karimova
British BP, the project operator of the development of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli block of oil and gas fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, has announced the resumption of light oil extraction on the Chirag platform, which was suspended on November 10.
“After maintenance works, the oil extraction was resumed on the platform on December 10. All the technical works were held successfully, and the safety rules were fully complied with,” Tamam Bayatli, head of BP-Azerbaijan’s press office, told Trend on December 11.
In January-September 2015, Azerbaijan extracted 24 million tons of light oil compared to 24.2 million tons, extracted in the same period last year. The average daily oil output at the ACG block of fields stood at 640,000 barrels, while this figure for the Chirag platform reached 54,000 barrels in the reported period.
BP conducted maintenance, inspection and design works, which were necessary for the continuation of safe, reliable and environmentally-friendly operations at the platform.
The contract for the development of the ACG block of fields was signed in 1994, while it has been active since 1997. Production started from the Chirag part of the field. It was followed successfully by Azeri Project; Central Azeri production in February 2005, West Azeri in December 2005, and East Azeri in October 2006.
The Deepwater Gunashli section launched production in April 2008.
The shareholders in the contract are BP (operator of the ACG) - 35.78 percent, Chevron - 11.27 percent, Inpex - 10.96 percent, AzACG - 11.65 percent, Statoil - 8.56 percent, Exxon – eight percent, TPAO - 6.75 percent, Itocu - 4.3 percent and ONGC - 2.72 percent.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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