ВР to Construct New Platforms for Oil Production in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr S. Aliyev / BP intends to construct new platforms to extend the project to full-scale development of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) fields through production of oil from new layers in Balakhani Svita with oil and casing-head gas reserves, the President of BP Azerbaijan Bill Schrader said on 14 November. He did not specify the amount of reserves in Balakhani Svita.

According to Schrader, implementation of the project requires the construction of new platforms for production of oil from the new layer. The company will carry out technical work next year, and afterwards the scale of the implementation will be determined.

"In the case of ACG not being invested in, production will drop," he said.

Through additional oil production from new layers the company intends to keep production high as long as possible. According to estimations of the Azerbaijani Government, oil production by the Azerbaijani International Operating Company (AIOC), which develops ACG (operated by ВР), will begin dropping in 2011.

According to the Azerbaijani Government, oil production by the AIOC in 2011 will decrease by 541,000 tons compared to 2010; 54.204mln tons in 2011 and 54.745mln tons in 2010. In 2007, oil production will make up 34.926mln tons.