BP spuds third Shah Deniz well

July 31, 2000
BP has begun drilling the third well in the Shah Deniz offshore contract area in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea. The well is being drilled with the Azerbaijan-based Istiglal semisubmersible rig in the northwestern part of the reservoir, close to Bahar gas-condensate field.


MOSCOW�BP has begun drilling the third well in the Shah Deniz offshore contract area in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea. The well is being drilled with the Azerbaijan-based Istiglal semisubmersible rig in the northwestern part of the reservoir, close to Bahar gas-condensate field.

The project goal is to confirm gas in the relatively shallow part of the field, where water depths are 50-100 m, and to define the oil-gas or gas-water contact zones. Drilling, which could reach 7,000 m, is aimed at the Fasila suite.

Istiglal, reported to be the only rig in the Azeri Caspian equal to the task, drilled the first two Shah Deniz wells in the eastern part of the block (OGJ Online, Apr. 30, 2000). The second well was drilled 6 km from the first. The Istiglal was reportedly having trouble with its anchors last week, something that has plagued the rig in the past. Italy's Agip had previously deployed the Istiglal at its Kurdashi contract area.

BP plans to drill six test wells at Shah Deniz, some of which could become production wells. Operator BP holds a 25.5% interest in the project; Statoil AS, 25.5%; State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic, 10%; TotalFinaElf SA, 10%; LukAgip, 10%; Iranian firm Oil Industries Engineering & Construction, 10%; and Turkish company Turkiye Petrolleri AO, 9%.