Azerbaijan, Baku, May 4 / Trend , E. Ismayilova/
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) plans to produce over 8 billion cubic meters of gas from own fields under program on increase in gas output in 2009, a source in the company said.
The gas program envisages production of 8 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Seven billion will be delivered to the government. The company will use the remaining part to inject it to layers to increase recoverable oil.
"The company has over-fulfilled the plan for the last four months. SOCAR's gas output will reach 8 billion cubic meters this year if the company encounters no problems," a source said.
Last year the company did not achieve the planed volume of production at 8 billion cubic meters. "One of the reasons was that Azerigaz (largest gas distributor) could not receive gas to a certain degree," a source said. "The problem has been addressed."
The SOCAR increased gas output twice from 3.9 billion cubic meters to 7.65 billion cubic meters over the last three years.
SOCAR gas program includes fields developed independently. Azerbaijan also prroduces gas from the offshore Shah Deniz, which is being developed jointly by SOCAR and foreign companies. Part of the gas produced in Azerbaijan is associated gas obtained from the development Azeri-Chiraq-Gunashli fields. Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli is being developed in collaboration with foreign companies.
Azerbaijan has 57 oil and gas fields, 18 of which are onshore and remaining are offshore. SOCAR employs more than 62,000 people.
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