BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The construction schedule of the ACE platform as part of the project for development of Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block of oil and gas fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, said Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, BP’s vice president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, Trend reports.
He made the remark during the webinar on post-pandemic energy issues organized by Azerbaijan-based Center of Analysis of International Relations.
“We are continuing to build the ACE platform, which is our new platform for ACG project. It is a $6 billion project. Although our construction schedule has been impacted by COVID-19, we are still targeting the first oil day in 2023,” he said. "The schedule can move back and forth, but the completion of the construction and the first oil is still on schedule."
Updating on other BP projects in Azerbaijan, Aslanbayli noted that the company is aiming to complete the Shafag-Asiman well in the fourth quarter of 2020.
"Regarding Shafag-Asiman, this year we started drilling of exploration well, obviously with the difficulties in the pandemic period. These were mainly logistical difficulties like bringing workforce, bringing equipment during the period when the airspace is closed. But we managed to continue drilling of exploration well in Shafag-Asiman and we are very pleased that we are on track. We expect to complete the drilling of the exploration well by end of this year," he said.
“We intend to drill in Shallow-Water Absheron Peninsula (SWAP) project once the rig upgrades are complete. We are looking to deliver it by the end of this year. We have completed acquisition of seismic for D-230 block. Production in Shah Deniz is going on. The Southern Gas Corridor is within the schedule,” he added.
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