BP Expects to Complete Drilling of a New Exploration Well in Shah Deniz by 2024
By the end of 2023, BP plans to complete drilling of a new exploration well “SDX-8” at the Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
“This exploratory drilling program at Shah Deniz is designed for 12 months. The well is being drilled from the previously undeveloped flank of the Shah Deniz field. Taking into account the geological and technological features, this process will take enough time and will not be completed until the end of this year,” Bakhtiyar Aslanbeyli, BP Vice President for Communications and External Relations in the Caspian and Middle East region, told reporters on Wednesday.
According to Interfax-Azerbaijan, drilling of the SDX-8 well is carried out from the Heydar Aliyev semi-submersible drilling rig. It is assumed that the depth of the well will be about 7 thousand meters.
If the drilling results are successful, the SDX-8 well will provide a clearer picture of the drilling performance, production opportunities and gas resource potential of deeper horizons below the reservoirs currently being exploited on the eastern wing of the field.
The contract for the development of the Shah Deniz field was signed in Baku on June 4, 1996 and ratified by the Milli Majlis on October 17 of the same year. The equity participation of the parties in the contract is currently as follows: bp (operator – 29.99%), LUKOIL (19.99%), TPAO (19%), SOCAR (14.35%), NICO (10%) and CJSC “Cenub Qaz Dehlizi” (6.67%).
Gas production from the Shah Deniz field began in December 2006.
In 2022, 25.2 billion cubic meters of gas (+11.5% from 2021) and 4.4 million tons of condensate (+4.8%) were produced from the Shah Deniz field.
Gas exports from Shah Deniz in 2022 amounted to 20 billion 803.7 million cubic meters (+ 18.1%).
