Kashagan back on line says ministry

Kazakhstan has resumed production at the Kashagan oilfield, the country’s Ministry of Energy announced on Thursday, ending an almost three-year-long shut-in.

According to the ministry’s analytical centre, production was restarted on Wednesday with a recorded output of 10,658 barrels of oil. The field is projected to produce at an initial rate of 75,000 bopd from October onwards and grow to 180,000 bopd by December.

The Kashagan oilfield development project has been marred by delays and cost overruns. It first began producing in September 2013 but work was halted two weeks later due to gas leaks. Discovered in 2000, the field’s estimated recoverable reserves of around 13 billion barrels attracted some of the world’s largest energy companies.

The international consortium developing the field – working under the North Caspian Operating Company Umbrella – comprises China National Petroleum Corporation, Eni, ExxonMobil, Inpex, Shell, Total and KazMunayGas.