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Kazakh Tengizchevroil’s production continues uninterrupted despite coronavirus

Oil&Gas Materials 21 May 2020 13:52 (UTC +04:00)
Kazakh Tengizchevroil’s production continues uninterrupted despite coronavirus

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Tengizchevroil’s (TCO) production continues uninterrupted in Kazakhstan and the company remains focused on maintaining safe and reliable operations, TCO’s parent company – Chevron – told Trend.

On May 20, 2020 Kazakhstan’s Chief Sanitary Doctor Aizhan Yesmagambetova said that operations at TCO-operated Tengiz oil and gas field may be suspended if number COVID-19 cases among field’s staff go on increasing.

“Like many other companies in Kazakhstan and around the world, TCO continues to work through challenging circumstances and continues to take prudent measures to protect the health and safety of the workforce, while minimizing the impact of COVID-19 on our business,” the Chevron official said.

The official noted that TCO, is in close cooperation with the local Kazakh health authority, Sanitary Epidemiological Service (SES) and in compliance with Kazakhstan’s law, has introduced strict procedures on isolation, social distancing, masks and personal hygiene for everyone in Tengiz, and expects all contractor companies to adhere to those procedures.

“TCO has also continuously developed COVID-19 testing. This allows to proactively identify people who may have been exposed to the virus so that they are given proper medical care. Additionally, an infectious hospital was established in Tengiz to handle mild and asymptomatic cases and to provide treatment in compliance with Kazakhstan’s approved protocol. All further inquiries related to the operation of this facility shall be directed to local healthcare authorities,” the official said.

Furthermore, to reduce workforce exposure to COVID-19, TCO is temporarily reducing non-essential activities and personnel based at Tengiz.

“The reduction has and continues to take place in a safe, phased and controlled manner according to a previously developed and approved plan. Currently, TCO production continues uninterrupted and we remain focused on maintaining safe and reliable operations. The Future Growth Wellhead Pressure Management Project (FGP-WPMP) project is 77 percent complete and TCO is taking actions to safely execute the project’s key critical-path activities. TCO’s priority remains protecting the health and safety of our workforce,” the official said.

The latest data said that 935 coronavirus cases of total cases countrywide account for Tengizchevroil staff.

The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

The total number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Kazakhstan amounted to 7,234. This includes 3,777 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 35 patients who passed away.

The Tengiz oil field was discovered in 1979 and is one of the biggest and deepest oil fields in the world. The total explored reserves of Tengiz reach 3.2 billion tons, while recoverable reserves range from 890 million tons to 1.37 billion tons.

In 1993, Tengizchevroil LLP, which is the project operator, was established on the basis of an agreement between Kazakhstan and Chevron. Presently, Tengizchevroil includes Chevron (50 percent), ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc. (25 percent), KazMunayGas (20 percent) and LukArco (5 percent).

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