SOCAR to launch geophysical research to increase gas volume in underground gas storages
Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.1 / Trend E.Ismayilov/
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) plans to launch three-dimensional (3D) geophysical researches to determine geological structure and define possible additional volumes to expand the Kalmaz gas storage in 2009, a source in SOCAR said.
"Perhaps, 3D researches in the Kalmaz gas storage will be launched to define additional volumes for extension in 2009," the source said. The source did not divulge the exact date of researches.
The geophysical researches should be held to determine geological structure and define possible additional volumes to expand the Kalmaz gas storage, the same source said.
At present, the storage's projected active capacity is 1.2 billion cubic meters. However, it is technically possible to pump there only 600-650 million cubic meters of gas. It is necessary to perform certain geophysical work on the wells and aboveground structures also should be replaced to achieve the design capacity of the gas storage. All of this should be implemented together, as these technological processes are linked with each other, Head of the Azerbaijani Scientific Research and Designing Institute of Gas (ASRPIG) Azar Seyidov said earlier.
Two underground gas storage facilities in Azerbaijan (Garadagh and Kalmaz) were part of a gas distribution system and used to maintain stability in the system in the former USSR period. Azerbaijan after gaining independence, used Garadagh and Kalmazskoe base type of gas storages to store surplus gas (in summer), derived particularly, from the block of the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) offshore oil and gas fields. If the production in the Shah Deniz offshore gas condensate field in Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea can be controlled, the associated gas produced with the "ACG" tied to oil and should be hipped to onshore.
Azerbaijan pumps the surplus gas to gas storages in summer period, when the gas consumption is less and when gas consumption increases, it is drawn from the storages and supplied to consumers.
At present SOCAR conducts work to increase active capacity of the Garadagh gas storage under the first phase. The gas storage will be reconstructed in two phases. The first phase involves increasing its active volume to 1.4 billion cubic meters compared to the current 500 million cubic meters. The second phase of the gas-storage expansion is planned to increase the active volume to 2.3 billion cubic meters
Earlier the First Vice President of SOCAR on Geology, Geophysics and Mining Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh said that the work, which is part of the first phase of expanding the gas storage, is expected to be completed by the beginning of the gas injection season (March-April) in 2010.
Under the feasibility study, developed by SOCAR's Neftgazstroy Institute, the total cost of increasing the active volume of the Garadagh underground gas storage facilities will be 75 million manat.
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