Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR has started drilling a new well in the shallow part of Gunashli field, SOCAR said on February 25.

The field with a projected depth of 3,030 meters is managed by SOCAR's May 28 Oil and Gas Production Unit.

Geologists estimated that the well's expected daily debit will be 80 tons.

The well's drilling is being conducted by SOCAR Complex Drilling Works Trust. SOCAR planned to drill 20 new wells for increasing oil and gas production in Gunashli field's shallow part.

Deepwater part of the Gunashli field is being developed by SOCAR jointly with foreign companies operating at the giant Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (AGC) block of oil and gas fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

Earlier SOCAR prepared a program for 2013-2015 to stabilize and increase the production volume at the fields that are developed independently by this company.

In 2013, SOCAR produced over 8.31 million tons of oil from Azerbaijan's onshore and offshore fields, versus 8.24 million tons in 2012.

In total some 43.48 million tons of oil was produced in Azerbaijan in 2013, versus 43 million tons in 2012, according to SOCAR.

The ACG block of fields has been producing oil since 1997. Production started from the Chirag part of the field and continues successfully to this day. This was followed by the Azeri Project; Central Azeri production started in February 2005, West Azeri began production in December 2005, and East Azeri came on stream in October 2006. The Deepwater Gunashli section launched production in April 2008.