BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 11. Maintenance and repair work is making for erratic oil flows in Kazakhstan, Trend reports via the report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The report said that output slumped during March and April due to unscheduled outages, is rebounding in May but is set to fall again in June because of planned maintenance.
“Total oil production of crude oil and condensates fell by 230 kb/d in April to 1.72 mb/d, with crude oil dropping by 190 kb/d to 1.41 mb/d due to repair of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) loading terminal on Russia's Black Sea coast. Before the unscheduled maintenance that started in March, total oil supply stood at 1.95 mb/d,” the report said.
By late April, the report added, the CPC terminal and pipeline returned to full capacity – with production recovering to above 1.9 mb/d.
“Those higher rates are holding up so far this month, which suggests the country’s top three fields – Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak are pumping at or near March levels. Kashagan, which had been producing around 400 kb/d, is due for maintenance from May through July, with a full field shut down next month. Following the upgrade work, Kashagan output is expected to rise to around 450 kb/d,” the report said.