Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Oct. 24 -- The East Azeri (EA) platform in the Caspian Sea off Azerbaijan has begun oil production 4 months earlier than planned.
Azerbaijan International Operating Co., operated by BP, opened the first of eight predrilled wells for test production on Oct. 21. A 30-in. subsea pipeline connects the platform, in 150 m of water in the Azeri field part of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) complex, to the onshore Sangachal terminal (see map, OGJ, Oct 18, 2004, p. 39).
Associated gas not used on the 48-slot EA drilling, production, and quarters platform will flow to a compression and water injection platform for reinjection for pressure maintenance. Surplus gas will move ashore through an existing pipeline for use in Azerbaijan.
Start-up of the EA platform, which will produce 260,000 b/d of oil at plateau, completes the second phase of ACG development. The Central Azeri platform, which will produce as much as 340,000 b/d, started up in February 2005. The West Azeri platform, expected to produce 300,000 b/d, started up last December (OGJ, Jan. 16, 2006, Newsletter).
Chirag field started production in 1997. The third ACG development phase will cover deepwater Gunashli field, production of which is to begin in 2008.
The seven-platform ACG complex will produce more than 1 million b/d at its plateau level expected in 2009.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
