Report on Kashagan field to be ready this month
By Aynur Jafarova
The results of the examination of the steel pipeline samples of Kazakhstan's giant Kashagan field will be ready this month.
It was announced by the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), quoted by the Trend Agency.
"It is expected that the results of analysis of the steel samples - which are being conducted in the laboratory of TWI and other specialized laboratories in France and Italy- will be ready in April 2014," the consortium said.
The company also said the oil and gas pipelines stretching from the Island D to the Bolashak Integrated Oil and Gas Treatment Unit are under inspection by diagnostic intratubal device. The examination process of the data is still underway.
"Interpretation of the data is a complex process that requires a high degree of scrupulousness. Accordingly, obtaining reliable results, which then will form the basis for the development of the pipeline restoration plan, takes certain time," the consortium noted.
NCOC went on to say that the comments recently voiced in the media about the delay in receiving the final results of the interpretation of data are just baseless speculations.
"During the inspection on January 11, 2014, some diesel fuel was found on the ground part of the pipeline near the Bolashak Factory. Excavation was made with isolation of the particular part of the pipeline. Fuel leakage in the weld was also confirmed," the consortium said.
Currently, works are underway in the field to confirm each case of alleged leakage (defect) by dredging the soil, and, if necessary - the pipe sections.
Examination of lines has already been completed in the gas and oil pipeline.
"Setting the time of the production resumption will depend on the results of the analysis of the main reasons, on the results of pipeline inspection and plan of renovations," the NCOC said.
The Kashagan field with recoverable oil reserves - estimated at 11 billion barrels - is believed to be the largest oil field in the world after Prudo Bay in Alaska. Besides, natural gas reserves are estimated at over 1 trillion cubic meters.
The oil production in the field started on September 11, 2013. However the operations had to be stopped on September 24, due to a gas leak in the onshore section of the gas pipeline running from Island D to the Bolashak onshore processing facility.
The Department of Emergency Situations was immediately briefed on the regulations. Production was resumed, but stopped again on October 9 after a detection of a gas leak.