Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 9 / Trend /
As part of possible expansion of the Gazimahammad-Shirvanovka (Azerbaijan-Russia border) gas pipeline to export gas from the second stage of development of the offshore Shah Deniz field, State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (Socar), ВР-Azerbaijan and Azerigaz CJSC examined technical and physical state of the pipeline, Socar said in a message on Feb. 9.
Compressor stations Siyazan and Shirvanovka, adjusting sets and bypass lines, highway crossings near the pipe were examined.
Companies' experts studied underwater and above-water sections of the pipeline over Valvalichay and Gilgilchay, as well as land sections of the pipeline in mountains.
Several examinations will be held in near future.
Azerbaijan may expand the capacity of the Mozdok-Gazimahammad pipeline in its territory, Azerigaz head Alikhan Malikov said.
Earlier the
pipeline was transporting natural gas from Russia to Azerbaijan. Pipeline's
capacity is 10 billion cubic meters. In 2007, Azerbaijan stopped purchasing gas
from Russia.
In late
December, Gazprom and Socar negotiated Azerbaijani gas supplies to Russia.
Gazprom intends to buy the full export volume in the second phase of development of the Shah Deniz field, Socar senior official said. Gas produced by Socar in its own fields may be exported in near future. Gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Dagestan are being reviewed.
In 2009, Socar will produce roughly 8 billion cubic meters of gas from its own fields.
The contract on development of off-shore Shah Deniz field was signed on 4 June 1996. Shah Deniz participating interests are: ВР (operator - 25.5%), StatoilHydro (25.5%), SOCAR (10%), LukAgip (10%), NICO (10%), Total (10%), and TPAO (9%).
Gas production from the field began in December 2006. Gas is transported to Georgia and Turkey through the South Caucasus gas pipeline. Azerbaijan also buys the gas.
Over 9 billion cubic meters of gas per year is produced during first stage of the project. The gas is sold to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Production will be increased to 20 billion cubic meters during the second stage to commence after 2013. During the second stage gas will be exported to Europe.