David Woodward, the President of BP Azerbaijan, stated to a news conference 27 October that the First Oil at the wellhead was achieved on October 21 and oil is now being exported from the platform, some four months ahead of schedule. This early delivery is a result of our project production line practice where we apply the lessons learned from building our previous platforms in the Caspian, Trend reports.
since the beginning of this year 70% overall progress has been achieved under Phase 3 to date. The overall Phase 3 project progress is on schedule and we anticipate production start up in the second quarter of 2008.
The Deepwater Gunashli (ACG Phase 3) Drilling, Utilities and Quarters Platform (DUQ) topsides in-country fabrication progress is 66% complete. The living quarters and drilling facilities, which are the only components of this platform fabricated abroad, were delivered to Baku from the Netherlands and Sweden in the second quarter of 2006. These modules, along with the drilling derrick, have been lifted onto the integrated deck during the third quarter of this year by McDermott Caspian Contractors Inc., AIOC's contractor for fabrication of the DUQ platform topsides.
The total dry weight of the drilling modules including the drilling derrick is approximately 3,700 tonnes. The drilling modules for the DUQ platform comprise three main components - the drilling support module, the drilling equipment set and the drilling derrick. The modules are designed to provide drilling from 48 slots during the operational life of the DUQ platform.
The last jacket to be built for Phase 3 will be for the Production, Compression, Water Injection and Utilities Platform (PCWU). The construction of this jacket is approximately 40% complete.
The last deck to be built for Phase 3 is the PCWU topsides. The construction of these topsides at the ATA (AmecTekfen-Azfen) yard in Bibi-Heybat continues with progress to date of 58%. This deck is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2007
The Phase 3 north and south flank subsea water injection facilities engineering and procurement is 88% complete. These facilities will inject over 400,000 barrels of water per day into the Deepwater Gunashli reservoir through six subsea wells drilled from two subsea drilling centres approximately 5km away from the Deepwater Gunashli platform. Development of these subsea facilities marks the first significant subsea development in the Caspian Sea, and paves the way for future Caspian subsea developments in ACG, Shah Deniz and elsewhere
The Sangachal Terminal Expansion Programme (STEP) - ACG Phase 3 is the next important phase of construction at STEP. The main construction works are progressing well and are currently 44% complete. The Phase 3 facilities at STEP are expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2007, leaving the construction of the DPCU2 as the remaining scope of sanctioned expansion works at the Sangachal Terminal.