SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) is discussing an issue on speeding up exploratory drilling on the offshore perspective areas Babek and Umud, a source in SOCAR told Trend. Drilling programs for these fields have already been prepared. Opening of financing is expected as well as launching drilling wells.
Until the duration of the memorandum signed with the American ConocoPhillips is not completed, we cannot launch works on these perspective areas. However, we are discussing an issue on launching exploratory drilling to be carried out earlier the first quarter of 2007, SOCAR told.
According to the program aimed at developing Azerbaijan`s fuel and energy complex, which is considered for 2005 2015, exploratory works on the fields Umus and Babek will to be resumed in 2008. The above-mentioned oil fields are deep water ones.
The SOCAR representative did not rule out the possibility that the special vessel Markab belong to the Holland Fugro will be attracted to carrying out geotechnical works. The geotechnical works will be carried out to install a self-submersible oil rig to the drilling point. It is not ruled out that the semi-submersible rig LIDER (LEADER) will be attracting to drill, SOCAR told.
The program considered for 2006-2008 will also envisage completing the exploration and preparing for industrial development of the fields Asgrafi and Garabagh. These two fields are to be subjected to development starting from 2008 and till 2010 long..