TCO consortium starts up Tengiz field extension

Jan. 30, 2008
Tengizchevroil has started up new facilities as part of the first phase of its expansion at Tengiz field in Kazakhstan.

Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 -- Chevron Corp. affiliate Tengizchevroil LLP, a joint venture of Chevron 50%, KazMunaiGas 20%, ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc. 25%, and LukArco 5%, has started up new facilities as part of the first phase of its expansion at Tengiz field in Kazakhstan.

The total capacity of the TCO consortium will increase to a total of 400,000 b/d following the first phase expansion of 90,000 b/d, while the start-up of full facilities in this year's second half will further increase production capacity to 540,000 b/d.

The start-up includes the sour gas injection project, which reinjects produced sour gas into the reservoir at high pressure to boost production, as well as the front end of the second generation plant.

According to Chevron, the second generation plant was brought up to about one third of its full capacity and is currently separating gas for injection while stabilizing and sweetening the oil. Once fully online, the plant also is designed to process sour gas into gas products and elemental sulfur.

When the plant is fully fuctional, about a third of the sour gas produced from the expansion will be injected into the reservoir. The remaining volumes will be processed as commercial gas, propane, butane, and sulfur.

In 2007, the TCO consortium was the largest oil producer in Kazakhstan, with output of 13.93 million tonnes of oil, or 20% of the country's total production. The country's overall oil production rose 3.7% in 2007, according to government figures.

Earlier this month, Interfax news agency reported that Kazakhstan's combined oil and gas condensate production in 2007 increased to 67.237 million tonnes, which included 6.275 million tonnes of gas condensate.

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].