Azerbaijan, Baku, Sep. 25 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
A gas leak was detected at Kazakh Bolashak Integrated Oil and Gas Plant in Atyrau which receives oil from Kashagan field, Kazinform reported on Wednesday.
The incident happened on September 24 morning. Gas alarms at the plant were not activated, personnel is not under danger. A special group investigates the incident.
The North Caspian Operating Company which operates Kashagan project confirmed the fact.
"A small gas leak was detected while inspecting the pipeline running from the island of D to Bolashak Integrated Oil and Gas Plant. In accordance with the normal procedures this onshore section of pipeline was isolated and pressure was released," NCOC External Relations Manager Hans Wenck said.
According to Wenck, Atyrau region's department of Emergency Situation Ministry was immediately notified of the incident.
"Toxic hydrogen sulfide was not released into the air, nobody was injured. All manufacturing facilities are in standby mode, the wells are temporarily closed," he said.
This incident is not the first when gas leaks at Bolashak Integrated Oil and Gas Plant. The last similar incident occurred here on August 26.
Oil production at Kashagan oil and gas field was launched on September 11.
Kashagan is a large oil and gas field in Kazakhstan located in the north of the Caspian Sea. Its geological reserves are estimated at 4.8 billion 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.
...