bp looking to add compression platform at Caspian Sea Shah Deniz field

Feb. 17, 2025
A new platform will be installed 3 km from the existing Shah Deniz Bravo platform.

bp has published a draft environmental and socio-economic impact assessment document for the Shah Deniz Compression project in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. 

This involves construction of a new offshore compression platform to increase production and processing of gas from the Shah Deniz field.

It will be installed in 85 m water depth, 3 km from the existing Shah Deniz Bravo platform and 10 km from the Shah Deniz Alpha (SDA) platform. It will also provide compression of gas exports for these two established facilities.

In an operations update, bp added that it had completed the SDA power project, initiated in 2022, late last year, allowing the SDA platform to receive its power supply directly from the Bravo platform 8 km away via a subsea power and fiber optic cable.

This set-up replaces the five diesel generators that had powered SDA since its start-up, and should lead to higher availability of its power supply and lower running costs.

Work continues on the Shah Deniz 2 development, with the Istiglal and Heydar Aliyev rigs so far drilling 21 wells: five on the North flank, four on the West flank, four on the East South flank, five on the West South flank and three on the East North flank.

Analysis continues of data obtained in 2023 from target reservoirs of the SDX-8 exploration well, the goal being to appraise the deeper reservoirs underlying the currently producing Shah Deniz layers.

Offshore ACG field updates

At the West Chirag platform, part of the bp-operated ACG field complex, drilling is underway of an initial well into the field’s NAG reservoirs, thought to hold up to 4 Tcf of in-place gas. The well is also designed for appraisal purposes, and it should go onstream late in 2025.

Last October 2024, bp deployed its first pressure coring acquisition in the ACG field; the operation was conducted in the BaIakhany VIII formation through a West Azeri well.

Four fully pressurized core samples were recovered, with all fluids captured and preserved in their in-situ condition. These have since been sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Related content: Offshore Shah Deniz and ACG news

Courtesy bp
bp in Azerbaijan
Nov. 15, 2024
bp has issued a progress report on ongoing development works at the Shah Deniz and ACG fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
Courtesy bp
pressure coring
Oct. 30, 2024
bp has successfully completed its first pressure coring sampling operation in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
Courtesy bp
Central Azeri
Sept. 25, 2024
bp and SOCAR have agreed to jointly explore and potentially develop two blocks in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
Courtesy bp
bp in Azerbaijan
Aug. 2, 2024
BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) has issued updates on development/exploration programs at its two main fields offshore Azerbaijan.
Courtesy bp
Azeri Central East (ACE) development project
July 23, 2024
ONGC Videsh has agreed to acquire an 0.615% interest from Equinor in the Azeri Chirag Gunashli (ACG) oil field development in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
Courtesy Baku Shipyard LLC
Khankendi subsea construction vessel
July 12, 2024
BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) has signed a three-year framework agreement with a consortium comprising Saipem Contracting Netherlands, BOS Shelf LLC and BOS Shelf International...
Courtesy Flyability
June 26, 2024
The drone has already completed inspection of an empty tank on the Shah Deniz Alpha platform.
Courtesy MVM Group
June 14, 2024
MVM Group has agreed to acquire minority interests in the Shah Deniz gas-condensate project in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
Courtesy bp
March 1, 2024
bp has started production from the East North flank of the Shah Deniz gas-condensate field offshore Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea.
Courtesy SOCAR/Southern Gas Corridor
Shah Deniz Compression Project 637657068f850
Sept. 12, 2023
BP reports that gas production from the Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea recently passed the 200 billion cubic meter mark.