BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. bp has announced the
start of non-associated gas (NAG) production operations on the
Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field in the Azerbaijan sector of the
Caspian Sea, Trend reports via bp.


This marks the first-ever commercial gas production operations
on ACG, one of the world’s largest oil-producing fields.


The initial NAG well, drilled from the existing West Chirag
platform, is a critical first step in unlocking ACG’s significant
non-associated gas resource potential. As well as delivering early
production, the well provides important reservoir and flow data,
supporting appraisal of the resource base to inform future
full-field gas development.


The NAG resources of ACG are believed to be significant, with an
estimated 4 trillion cubic feet of recoverable reserves and a
potential upside to 6 trillion cubic feet.


ACG’s first NAG production operations have commenced at the
initial producer well drilled last year into two priority NAG
reservoirs – the shallower Qirmaki Upper Sand and the deeper
Qirmaki Lower Sand – both located beneath the producing oil
reservoirs. The well confirmed the presence of gas resources in the
Qirmaki Upper Sand reservoir and encountered high pressure gas in
the Qirmaki Lower Sand reservoir.


The first NAG operations are focused on the Qirmaki Lower Sand
reservoir for an initial period of well and reservoir testing
activities.







Gas and condensate produced from the well will be directed to
the Sangachal terminal via the existing ACG infrastructure through
the integration of oil and gas development systems, enabling the
efficient use of existing offshore facilities.


The addendum to the existing ACG production sharing agreement
(PSA) enabling the exploration, appraisal, development of and
production from the NAG reservoirs of the ACG field was announced
on 20 September 2024.


NAG reservoirs are multiple geological formations beneath and
above the currently producing oil reservoirs, and which were not
initially included in the existing ACG PSA.


The addendum is effective until the end of the existing ACG PSA
in 2049. During the next 23 years, and subject to exploration and
appraisal of the NAG reservoirs, there is potential for billions of
dollars of capital to be invested in the full field development of
NAG reservoirs of the ACG field.


The participating interests of the ACG co-venturers in the NAG
project are the same as in the existing ACG PSA: bp – operator
(30.37%), SOCAR (35.3%), MOL (9.57%), INPEX (9.31%), ExxonMobil
(6.79%), TPAO (5.73%), ONGC Videsh (2.92%).