Baku, Azerbaijan, July 18
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The commencement of civil works in well C-30 at Azerbaijan’s Jafarli oil fields is expected during the first week of August 2019, Trend reports citing Canada’s Zenith Energy company, which is the operator for development of Muradkhanli-Jafarli-Zardab block of oil fields onshore Azerbaijan.
Moreover, the company said the commencement of well deepening operations in well C-37 at that field is scheduled to begin on July 26, 2019.
"I am pleased that we now have a confirmed date for the start of well deepening activities. The activation of the BD-260 drilling has taken longer than expected, however, this should be viewed in the context of the fact that this is the rig's first operational deployment in Azerbaijan, and that the extensive work done at this initial phase will be extremely beneficial during the long-term operational deployment of the rig across our Azerbaijan asset,” said Andrea Cattaneo, Chief Executive Officer of Zenith.
Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR and Zenith Aran Oil Company signed a Rehabilitation, Exploration, Development and Production Sharing Agreement (REDPSA) in March 2016 for a block that includes the Muradkhanli, Jafarli and Zardab oil fields. Zenith Energy Ltd established its subsidiary company Zenith Aran Oil Company Ltd for production operations in these three fields. Production under the agreement began in August 2016.
Zenith holds an 80-percent participating interest in the three fields within the contract area, while SOCAR retains the remaining 20 percent. The agreement is for 25 years, with a potential extension by five additional years.
The total area of the Muradkhanli, Jafarli and Zardab fields is 642.2 square kilometers, and according to the contract, it is divided into rehabilitation and exploration territories.
The Muradkhanli-Jafarli-Zardab block is located in the Yevlakh-Agjabadi oil and gas region of Imishli district of Azerbaijan. The Muradkhanli field was discovered in 1971, Jafarli - in 1984, and Zardab - in 1981.
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