Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan.28
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) international consortium intends to resume the production at the Kazakh Kashagan field in 2014, Deputy Managing Director of NCOC Zhakyp Marabayev said on Jan.27 at an expanded meeting of the country's Oil and Gas Ministry's collegium on the results of 2013.
"After about three weeks we will officially announce the time of resumption of production at Kashagan. We will have preliminary results of research in mid-February and in March. We will then present a detailed plan for the resumption of production and how we should assimilate the situation to the Oil and Gas Ministry and the government. The production at Kashagan will be resumed this year, but it is too early to talk about the timing," Marabayev said.
Various scenarios are being considered for the resumption of production at Kashagan and the time of resuming the production will be dependent on the assessment of restoration works, according to the deputy managing director.
Oil production at Kashagan started on September 11, 2013, but on September 24 its operation was suspended after a gas leak appeared from the ground pipeline stretching from Island D to the Bolashak plant. Kazakhstan's emergency management department and the relevant regulatory authorities were immediately informed in line with the operator's current procedures. Access to the pipeline was secured and the respective joints were replaced. Production was resumed, but again suspended on October 9 after showing another leak.
Hydro-testing was conducted after the repair of the damaged joint. Other potential gas leakage points were identified during the testing. A thorough investigation was initiated.
It was previously reported that sulphide stress cracking was the immediate cause of the gas leak.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.