Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 28 / Trend E. Ismayilov /
BP may complete drilling of the SDX-06 appraisal well by late February 2011. The drilling work is carried out as part of the second stage of the development of the Shah Deniz field, a source in the oil and gas market said.
A source said that the well is being drilled in accordance with the schedule and without any problems and difficulties.
At present, the projected depth of the well is 5,350 meters of the projected 6,500 meters.
The well is being drilled by the Istiglal semi-submersible drilling rig at water depths ranging up to 100 meters, the source said earlier. The well will have underwater completions, the drilling of which is scheduled during the second stage.
There are five wells on the field. One field was partially dismantled and mothballed due to the field's poor technical conditions. BP also continues to work on the drilling of a sixth production well on the field.
The peak production is forecasted at over 8.6-9 billion cubic meters. It is planned that in the second stage of field development, gas production can be brought up to 25 billion cubic meters a year.
Shah Deniz reserves are estimated to the amount of 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas.
The contract to develop the offshore Shah Deniz field was signed June 4, 1996. Participants to the agreement are: BP (operator) - 25.5 percent, Statoil Hydro - 25.5 percent, NICO - 10 percent, Total - 10 percent, LukAgip - 10 percent, TPAO - 9 percent, SOCAR-10 percent.