Astana, Kazakhstan, Feb.19
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
International Consortium North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), conducting the development of Kazakhstan's oil and gas field Kashagan has announced a tender for the purchase of pipeline segments, NCOC said on Feb.19.
The Investigation on the oil and gas pipeline is still going on. The results of these investigations and laboratory tests will be available in the first quarter of 2014. They will serve as a basis for making a decision on the repair work program. The required number of pipeline segments will be determined depending on the volume of work required for replacement of oil and gas pipelines. As a precaution, in order not to lose time, the consortium began the tender process for the potential purchase of pipe segments in sufficient quantities for different scenarios, NCOC said.
The results of the analysis revealing the reasons for a gas leak at Kazakhstan's Kashagan field will be ready in February, Deputy Managing Director of the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) Zhakyp Marabayev said in January at an expanded board meeting of the country's Oil and Gas Ministry.
"The results of the interpretation of the analysis for revealing the reasons of a leak from the pipelines will be ready in February 2014. The plan for resumption of oil production at the Kashagan field will be ready in March 2014," Marabayev said.
Oil production at Kashagan started on September 11, 2013, but on Sept. 24 its operation was suspended after a gas leak appeared in the ground pipeline stretching from Island D to the Bolashak plant.
Kazakhstan's emergency management department and the relevant regulatory authorities were immediately informed in line with the operator's current procedures. Access to the pipeline was secured and the respective joints were replaced. Production was resumed, but again suspended on Oct. 9 after showing another leak.
Hydro-testing was conducted after the repair of the damaged joint. Other potential gas leakage points were identified during the testing. A thorough investigation was initiated.
It was previously reported that sulphide stress cracking was the immediate cause of the gas leak.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by C.N.