Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.14
By Emil Ismayilov - Trend:
It is planned to get the first oil within the Chirag oil project, an increase of oil production in the block of the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli fields, by late January 2013, BP operator in Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli told Trend on Jan.13.
Currently the process of operational testing of the platform is nearing completion.
"The testing process is slightly delayed due to the large size of the platform. But they are now nearing completion and first oil within this project will be received by the end of this month," the company stressed.
Last year the support block and topsides of the new platform were sent to sea for installation.
The Chirag oil project envisages the construction of the new platform West Chirag. The platform will be installed at a depth of 170 meters between the already-running production platforms Chirag and Guneshli.
The Chirag Oil Project (COP) envisages an investment of $6 billion.
In total it is planned to produce over 300 million barrels of oil within the implementation of the project (by the end of the contract on Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli in 2024).
The contract for development of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli large offshore field was signed in 1994. Shares are distributed as follows: BP (operator in Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli) - 35.78 per cent, Chevron - 11.27 per cent, Inpex - 10.96 per cent, AzACG - 11.65 per cent, Statoil - 8.56 per cent, Exxon - 8 per cent, TPAO - 6.75 per cent, Itochu - 4.3 per cent and ONGC - 2.72 per cent.
Translated by M.L.
Edited by C.N.