Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 16 / Trend, E.Ismayilov /
BP, operator of the project on development of the Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, plans to start gas production in the second phase of the field's development in 2017, the head of BP's representative office in Turkey, Djan Suphi, has said in Baku.
According to him, plateau stage production is planned after three years after the start of production.
"Gas production will start in 2017, and plateau stage production will be after three years," Suphi said.
The contract to develop Shah Deniz was signed in June 1996. Participants are: BP (operator) - 25.5 percent; Statoil - 25.5 percent; NICO - 10 percent; Total - 10 percent; LukAgip - 10 percent; TPAO - 9 percent; and, SOCAR - 10 percent.
Gas is transported to Georgia and Turkey through the South Caucasus gas pipeline.
This year the field will produce 7.84 billion cubic meters of gas. Peak production is forecast at over 8.6-9 billion cubic meters. Gas production may be brought up to 25 billion cubic meters per year under the second phase of development.