First oil still on track as BP spuds production well from brand-new platform off Azerbaijan

UK-headquartered energy giant BP has started drilling the first well from its operated Azeri Central East (ACE) platform in the Caspian Sea off the coast of Azerbaijan, inching closer to the first oil from the ACE project.

ACE platform; Source: BP

As part of the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) field development project, BP began drilling the first production well from the new Azeri Central East platform on December 4, following the safe completion of offshore hookup, installation, and commissioning of the ACE topsides unit, which sailed away from the Bayil fabrication yard in August 2023. According to the oil major, the well is planned to reach a total depth of up to 3,188 meters. This is expected to take around three months.

Gary Jones, BP’s regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, commented: “We are excited to commence drilling the first platform production well on ACE. This allows us to meet our first oil production target for ACE and deliver it in early 2024. A great deal of preparation has been made to assure a safe and robust drilling program using our experience, as well as our innovative approach, automated processes, and advanced technology. We look forward to delivering this first ACE production well safely, efficiently and on schedule.”

The transportation, float-over, and installation activities for the ACE topside unit were carefully planned and were completed in around two days. Afterward, the project progressed with hook-up activities, completed the initial rig skid, and achieved the operationalization of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, as well as the firewater pump, freshwater, and sewage treatment packages. Come September 13, the project achieved offshore habitation enabling the transfer of all personnel onboard the ACE platform.

By the end of the third quarter of 2023, the ACE project was 94% complete and the ACG field continued to deliver stable production, which totaled on average about 368,000 barrels per day (b/d) for the first nine months of 2023. In addition, an average of around 5.5 million cubic meters per day of ACG-associated gas was delivered in the period to the state of Azerbaijan, primarily at the Sangachal terminal but also to SOCAR’s Oil Rocks facility.

-----The news is quoted from Offshore Energy by Melisa Cavcic (www.offshore-energy.biz)

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