Gas leakage causes at Kazakh Kashagan field to be announced in February
Results of analysis for detection of gas leakage causes at Kazakhstan's Kashagan oil field will be ready in February, North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) Deputy Managing Director, Zhakyp Marabayev said on Monday at an enlarged meeting of the Kazakh Oil and Gas Ministry.
"The interpretative results of analysis of causes for leakage from the pipelines will be ready in February. The plan on resuming oil production at the Kashagan field will be ready in March this year," he said.
Oil production at the Kashagan field started on September 11, 2013.
However, on September 24 the field's usage was suspended after gas leakage detection on a pipeline connecting the island 'D' to Bolashak installation.
Kazakhstan's emergency management department and the relevant regulatory authorities were immediately informed in line with the operator's current procedures. The access to the pipeline was secured and the respective joints were replaced.
Production was resumed, but on October 9 it was suspended again following another gas leak.
Hydro-testing was conducted after the repair of the damaged joint.
Other potential gas leakage points were identified during the testing. A thorough investigation was initiated.
It was previously reported that sulfide stress cracking was the immediate cause of the gas leakage.—0—
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