BP starts up massive 4D seismic study in Azerbaijan

BP has begun its largest-ever 4D seismic study on the offshore Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) field in Azerbaijan, the British energy giant announced on Tuesday.

The 4D high-definition ocean bottom node seismic programme will cover 740 square kilometres under source and 507 square kilometres under receivers with a focus on the Balakhany and Fasila reservoirs.

The plan is to conduct five monitors over five years using the Murovdag dual source vessel and the Guba node vessel.

The project will cost around USD 370 million and is expected to be completed in 2028.

According to the press release, works began on the project on Saturday.

The seismic programme will be performed by local seismic entity Caspian Geo.

The project represents BP’s largest 4D seismic study to date by all metrics, including area size, cost and duration.

“We hope the most up-to-date 4D technology to be used for this programme will allow us to acquire further in-depth data about the reservoir helping us identify ways to minimise future well surprises and maximise the field recovery in the next decades,” said Roshni Moosai, vice-president of subsurface for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye region of BP.

The ACG field has so far produced more than 4.3 million barrels of oil from its seven production platforms and two process, gas compression, water injection and utilities platforms.

Average production on the field totalled 368,000 bopd in the first three quarters of 2023.

Gas is delivered to the Sangachal terminal near Baku and is primarily exported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Western Route Export pipelines.

Total investments in the field up to 2023 amounted to USD 43 billion.

The first PSC for the ACG field was signed in September 1994, with a second signed in September 2017 that extends until the end of 2049.

The latest project, the installation of the Azeri Central East drilling, production and accommodation platform, was given the green light in April 2019 and is expected to begin operations in early 2024.