Offshore Energy Today, citing Azeri news sources, yesterday reported that BP had shut down production from its Shah Deniz platform in the Caspian Sea.
Trend news agency quoted BP as saying that the platform had been shut for regular maintenance.
Yesterday we reached out to BP seeking more details. Below is the response from BP we received Tuesday.
“BP as operator of the Shah Deniz field development project advises that as part of its SD annual work program it will implement a planned facility shut down (turnaround – TAR) on the Shah Deniz platform in the Caspian Sea, as well as the Shah Deniz facility inside Sangachal Terminal, in August.
In accordance with the plan, production from the Shah Deniz platform will be suspended on 2nd August for about 20 days to enable efficient maintenance, inspection and project work to be undertaken.
This is a routine, planned program and is part of normal operations.”
BP said that the planning for the program started in early 2014 and these activities are included in the annual work program and budget. The shutdown is also included in the annual production forecast.
BP went on to say that production from the ACG Field (Central Azeri, East Azeri, West Azeri, Chirag, Deepwater Gunashli, and West Chirag), as well as export operations via BTC and WREP will continue as normal. The ACG and EOP phases of Sangachal Terminal will continue to operate. Loadings at Ceyhan and Supsa will also continue in accordance with the lifting schedule, BP added.
“These planned events deliver routine inspection, maintenance and project delivery activities. They are a necessary part of the long term reliability, integrity and production performance, driven by repair and facility modification work that can only be performed during a plant outage,” BP said.
Offshore Energy Today Staff