Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:
Kazakhstan has no changes regarding the terms of resumption of oil production at Kashagan oil field, Novosti-Kazakhstan quoted vice-minister of energy Uzakbai Karabalin as saying.
"Nothing has changed. We still expect resumption of oil production in the second half of 2016," Karabalin said at the briefing on Feb. 26.
The production at the Kashagan field started Sept. 2013, but in October, it was ceased after a gas leak in one of the main pipelines. The analysis revealed numerous cracks in the pipeline, which needed to be completely replaced. The replacement was said to take at least two years.
Karabalin noted that the consortium developing the field is working on the pipelines replacement. Some pipes have been already purchased and the consortium start preparation of trenches for the pipes.
"We expect that welding of pipes will start in 2015 and the major work is expected in the second half of 2015 and at the beginning of 2016," Karabalin said.
Kashagan is a large oil and gas field in Kazakhstan, located in the north of the Caspian Sea. The geological reserves of Kashagan are estimated at 4.8 billion metric tons of oil. The total oil reserves amount to 38 billion barrels, some 10 billion out of them are recoverable reserves. There are large natural gas reserves at the Kashagan field - over one trillion cubic meters.
Edited by S.I.
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