Oil major BP, as the operator of the Azer-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field development project in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, has launched a newly retro-fitted vessel to be used for acid stimulation activities in selected 17 ACG wells.
BP said last week that this was the first time wells stimulation from a vessel technique would be applied to the Caspian to enhance field production.
Historically, this activity was performed from platforms creating challenges including rig equipment availability, additional personnel on board, limited acid volume due to deck space and safety issues related to handling of chemicals. In addition, platform stimulation technique was a time-consuming activity – stimulation of 14 wells has taken two years to complete since 2016.
The retro-fitted vessel – the Caspian Provider, is owned by Topaz and the project was implemented by Baker Hughes GE.
Mike Zanghi , BP’s Vice President, Wells, said: “We have been thinking about optimizing our wells stimulation activity for some time looking at various options. Globally, this operation is performed from fit-for-purpose pumping vessels, however, due to the logistical constraints related to transportation via canals, it has been impossible to bring such a vessel to the Caspian.
“Therefore, we decided to install the stimulation plant onto one of our service provider vessels relieving our platforms from a resource consuming operation.”
Commissioning activities on the vessel were completed at the end of November. The plan was to start the first stimulation operation for the West Azeri platform in mid-December.
ACG currently has six production platforms with a total of 112 producing oil wells and 53 water and gas injection wells.
Another first for the Caspian. A newly retro-fitted vessel to enhance the efficiency of our assets including production has recently sailed away into the sea https://t.co/xtYDfFlkQl #BP #Azerbaijan pic.twitter.com/bNJ0qeB4vk
— BP_Azerbaijan (@BP_Azerbaijan) December 25, 2018