Astana, Kazakhstan, March 28
By Daniar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Completion of the investigation on the causes of gas leakage on a pipeline running from Kazakh field of Kashagan were postponed to April, the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) told Trend March 28.
"NCOC as the operator of the North Caspian Sea Project has not yet received the final reports of the investigations on the pipeline incident. The results of these investigations are expected in March/April 2014," the company said.
Investigation results were initially expected in early 2014, but the timeframe was postponed to March.
"Consequently no decision has been made on the pipeline rehabilitation plan, therefore no indication on the date of the restart of production can be made at this moment in time," the NCOC said. "Sulphur stress cracking was identified as the root cause of the pipeline issues. This process occurs if steel of high hardness is exposed to high concentrations of H2S under high pressure in the presence of water."
The NCOC also said this mechanism is not at all related to normal corrosion (formation of rust) but solely to the hardness of the steel.
"Therefore storage conditions etc. do not have to be taken in consideration for the present pipeline issues."
Kazakh Oil and Gas Minister, Uzakbay Karabalin replying to journalists' questions on the sidelines of the last government meeting, confirmed that the government is awaiting the results of the investigation on the causes of the leakage on the gas pipeline.
"We are waiting for the investigation results, March is not over yet ... Regarding the delay [in the results], there are different options and they are being discussed," Karabalin said.
It was previously reported that the production at Kashagan was suspended in September, 2013 (two weeks after its launch) due to a gas leak. Another leakage was detected almost immediately after the resumption of production in October 2013.
KazMunaiGas, Eni, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Total and Inpex are participating in the project on development of this field. Chinese CNPC also acquired some 8.33 percent in the project from the KazMunaiGas
Kashagan is the largest deposit developed in the past 40 years. Its geological reserves are estimated at 4.8 billion tons.
Translated by E.A.
Edited by C.N.