Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov.16 / Trend, E. Ismayilov /
Azerbaijan has an opportunity to supply small gas volumes to the European markets prior to full-scale production from the second phase of the "Shah Deniz" field, which is planned for 2017 - 2018, adviser to the president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Murad Heydarov told journalists on Wednesday.
He said small volumes of gas can be supplied to Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Macedonia and Greece.
However, supplies may be made if the technical capabilities, namely the South Caucasus gas pipeline (built to transport natural gas from "Shah Deniz"), and gas transportation infrastructure of Turkey will allow.
At the same time, he said, now possible transportation of gas via the South Caucasus gas pipeline from other fields is considered.
Heydarov said first gas may be supplied to Bulgaria, Romania, and then later to other countries by 2017.
Total reserves of field Shah Deniz are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters.
The Shah Deniz Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) was signed on June 4, 1996. The Shah Deniz shareholders are BP- 25.5 percent as operator, Statoil-25.5 percent, SOCAR-10 percent, NICO-10 percent, Total-10 percent, LUKoil-10 percent, and TPAO-9 percent.