First gas from Absheron field planned to be produced in 2020

Total E&P Azerbaijan company (operator of the Absheron field development) expects to receive the first gas from the Absheron field in 2020, Total General Manager Christian Judicelli, told journalists yesterday.

He said by the end of 2014 Total E&P Azerbaijan will submit the program of the field development to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) , after implementation of which the first gas is expected to be received by 2020.

Speaking about the volume of oil production in the field, Judicelli said that according to the forecast, during the first phase of the field development annual volume of production is expected to be 3-5 billion cub.m.

Judicelli said that the preparation works are currently in progress. In particular, the company has been working on creation of the underground infrastructure, use of the drilling rig to drill the wells and other issues.

The big gas field Absheron was discovered in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea in September 2011 on the basis of the results of the exploration well drilling.

Total plans to export gas extracted on the Absheron field to Europe. For this purpose it has been actively involved in the new infrastructure projects of Azerbaijan. Total company has started talks with SOCAR to get 5% share in the TANAP gas pipeline and it also claims to half a share in the pipeline consortium in the European route as a part of the group of the main exporters of Azerbaijani gas.

The potential resources of the field total 350 billion cub.m. of gas and 45 million tons of condensate.

The Absheron project partners include SOCAR with 40% share, French Total with 40% and French Gas De France Suez – 20%.

The Absheron contract was signed between SOCAR and Total on February 27, 2009. Later on Total has given 20% share to Gaz De France Suez.—0--