BP Starts Oil Production at Major New Platform Offshore Azerbaijan

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

BP, as the operator of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) project, has started oil production from the new Azeri Central East (ACE) platform as part of the ACG field development in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.

The ACE platform is the seventh oil producing platform installed on the giant ACG field in the Caspian Sea.

ACG first began production in 1997 and has since produced over 4.3 billion barrels of oil. The BP-operated Shah Deniz gas field has two further platforms in the Caspian.

The ACE platform and related facilities are designed to process up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and the project is expected to produce up to 300 million barrels over its lifetime.

Oil will pass through the processing facilities on the platform and then be exported around 130 kilometers to the onshore Sangachal terminal via a new in-field pipeline linked to an existing 30-inch subsea export line.

Initial production from ACE comes from the first well that was initiated from the platform at the end 2023. ACE production is expected to increase through 2024 to around 24,000bpd as two more planned wells are drilled, completed and brought online.

"This is the ninth world-class production platform that we have built, installed, and are operating offshore Azerbaijan. ACE really stands out with its engineering creativity, advanced digital technology, and automation,” said Gary Jones, BP’s regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye.

BP’s Most Advanced Platform

The ACE platform is technologically and digitally the most advanced BP-operated platform in the world.

Its innovative engineering allows automation of labor-intensive processes, enabling safer and more efficient operations. The platform has a state-of-the-art fully automated drilling rig. The use of modern technology and new processes also helps lower operational emissions, according to the British energy major.

 “This successful start-up is testament to the ongoing close collaboration between bp, SOCAR and the Government of Azerbaijan, together with the support of our partners. First oil from ACE – in the year of the thirtieth anniversary of the agreement to develop ACG – marks the beginning of this world-class field’s next development phase,” added Jones.

The safe start-up of ACE delivers on the first major investment decision made by the ACG partnership since the signing of the extended ACG production sharing agreement in 2017.

ACG participating include BP (30.37%), SOCAR (25.0%), MOL (9.57%), INPEX (9.31%), Equinor (7.27%), ExxonMobil (6.79%), TPAO (5.73%), ITOCHU (3.65%), ONGCVidesh (2.31%).

Categories: Industry News Activity Europe Production Asia Caspian Sea Oil and Gas

Related Stories

Borr Drilling Bags Three New Assignments for its Jack-Up Drilling Rigs

CNOOC Sees 11% Profit Growth in 2024 Driven by Record Oil Production

CNOOC Starts Production at Two New Oil and Gas Projects

All Gas from Conrad’s Mako Field to be Sold to Indonesia’s PLN

Shell Predicts 60% Rise in LNG Demand by 2040 with Asia Leading the Way

CNOOC Brings Online Second Phase of Luda Oil Field Project in Bohai Sea

Six New Gas Wells in Line for BP’s Shah Deniz Field in Caspian Sea

ONGC and BP Sign Deal to Boost Production at India's Largest Offshore Oil Field

Kazakhstan Looks to Improve Oil Production Agreements Terms

BP to Help Boost Oil and Gas Output at India’s Largest Producing Field

Current News

Mitigate SCC & HE to Keep Offshore Metal Structures Ship Shape

India Stretches Bids Deadline for 13 Offshore Deep-Sea Mineral Blocks

Indonesia Awards Oil and Gas Blocks to Boost Reserves

Sapura Energy Nets $22.6M in Offshore Support Vessel Contracts

CNOOC Puts Into Production New Oil Field in South China Sea

Sunda Energy Starts Environmental Consultation for Chuditch-2 Well Drilling Plans

Pakistan’s OGDC to Start Production at ADNOC’s Offshore Block by 2027

Petrovietnam, Petronas Extend PSC for Offshore Block

Sapura Energy Scoops Close to $9M for O&M Work off Malaysia

Hanwha Ocean Marks Entry into Deepwater Drilling Market with First Drillship

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com