Azerbaijan International Operating Co. (AIOC), an international group led by BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd., has let contract for first-phase full-scale development of three Caspian Sea oil fields.
AIOC expects soon to begin early production from Chirag field, at a rate of 115,000 b/d of oil, through a platform built on a jacket installed earlier by State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic (OGJ, Sept. 4, 1995, p. 111).
Now AIOC has let contract for an undisclosed sum to Brown & Root Energy Services, Leatherhead, U.K., to provide engineering design and procurement for phase one of full-scale development of Chirag, Guneshli, and Azeri fields.
The contractor said it will study options for facilities capable of producing as much as 300,000 b/d of oil from the three fields, which have combined reserves estimated at 4 billion bbl of oil.
"The development is likely to center on a single processing platform," said Brown & Root, "plus two drilling and wellhead platforms for up to 80 wells.
"Also included in the design and procurement work scope are infield pipelines, main oil and gas pipelines to Sangachal onshore terminal 200 km away, expansion of the onshore terminal, and upgrading of the main export lines from Azerbaijan to ports on the Black Sea in Russia (Novorossiisk) and Georgia (Supsa)-the northern and western routes, respectively."
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