BTC transports over 417 million tons of Azerbaijani oil
By Leman Mammadova
In 2018, about 34 million tonnes (255 million barrels) of crude oil were exported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export oil pipeline, which was loaded into 327 tankers at the port of Ceyhan, Trend reports citing BP Azerbaijan.
The BTC pipeline operating since June 2006, transported more than 417 million tonnes (about 3.12 billion barrels) of crude oil so far and was loaded into the world market by loading 4085 tankers at the port of Ceyhan.
In 2018, BTC's operating costs totaled about $ 116 million, and substantial costs made about $ 41 million.
At present, the BTC pipeline mainly transports the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil and Shah Deniz condensate from Azerbaijan. In addition, other crude oil and condensate volumes, including Turkmen, Russian and Kazakh oil are transported via the pipeline.
It should be noted that oil production at Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) blocks amounted to 213 million barrels, or 29 million tons in 2018.
ACG is the largest oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea, covering more than 432 square kilometers. Proven oil reserves of ACG block of oil and gas fields are estimated at 1.2 billion tons, while gas reserves make 350 billion cubic meters.
The oil produced from the ACG field is exported to the world markets through the Sangachal Terminal, mainly through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the West Stream Pipeline to Supsa.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has been established to ensure access to crude oil produced at ACG field in the Caspian Sea under the "Contract of the Century".
The length of the pipeline is 1,768 km, 443 km runs through Azerbaijan, 249 km - through Georgia and 1,076 km - through Turkey. Daily transport capacity of the pipeline is 1.2 million barrels.
The crude oil delivery to the first tanker at the Ceyhan terminal took place in the summer of 2006.
The first delivery of approximately 600,000 barrels of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) crude oil, transported through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, was loaded on the British Hawthorn tanker on June 4, 2006 and dispatched from the new Ceyhan Offshore Terminal. Being a strategic project, it is the first direct link between the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean.
BTC Co. shareholders are BP (30.1 percent); SOCAR (25 percent); Chevron (8.9 percent); Equinor (8.71 percent); TPAO (6.53 percent); ENI (5 percent); Total (5 percent), ITOCHU (3.4 percent); INPEX (2.5 percent), Exon Mobile (2.5 percent), ONGC (2.36 percent).
This pipeline, which is considered to be the main artery of energy export in the region, has played an important role in the extraction of the Caspian Sea's rich energy resources and bringing them to the world markets.
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Leman Mammadova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888
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