SOCAR to launch new platform on Bulla-Deniz field

Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil and gas company SOCAR is planning to launch construction of a new platform No.18 on BullaDeniz gas field in the Caspian Sea.

The base of the platform will be meant for the drilling of one exploratory and four production wells.

The platform, which is important for maintaining and increasing the production in the Bulla-Deniz field, will be built at the depth of 21 meters. The base of the platform will comprise a dwelling and production units, brand-new drilling equipment, pads and mooring area, facilities for biological cleaning, hoisting cranes, fire-control unit, and diesel generators.

New gas pipelines will be laid from the base of the platform with further connection to a general system. Exploratory well will be drilled with a view to further develop hydrocarbon resources of the field.

Some 2.5 million cubic meters of gas and 500 tons of condensate are expected to be produced in the new base.

SOCAR’s Vice President Khoshbakht Yusifzade earlier said that SOCAR is planning to drill 26 new wells at the Bulla-Deniz offshore field in 2016-2025, underlining that some five new platforms would be also installed at the field during this period.

Bulla Deniz is estimated to contain 17 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and SOCAR has been developing the field since 1975.

Overall, SOCAR is implementing a new natural gas program as part of its commitments to the government in the framework of the tasks assigned to the company by the President. The program includes drilling and commissioning new wells on Bulla-Deniz, Umid, and May 28 fields.