UK-based oil and gas company BP has started operations at the $28bn Shah Deniz 2 gas development project in Azerbaijan.
The gas development project, which is said to be the largest subsea infrastructure operated by BP in the Caspian Sea, also initiated the process of the first commercial gas delivery to Turkey.
Shah Deniz 2 is the beginning of the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline series that is set to deliver natural gas directly from the Caspian Sea to European markets.
The gas development project is also the second of six BP projects that are scheduled to start-up this year.
It is estimated to incrementally contribute 16 billion cubic meters of gas annually (bcma) to existing Shah Deniz production. Combined with the first phase of development, the Shah Deniz field is expected to produce nearly 26 bcma of gas and around 120,000 barrels of condensate per day.
BP group chief executive Bob Dudley said: “Shah Deniz 2 is one of the biggest and most complex new energy projects anywhere in the world, comprising major offshore, onshore and pipeline developments.
“BP and our partners have safely and successfully delivered this multi-dimensional project as designed, on time and on budget.
“Together with the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline system, Shah Deniz 2 will deliver significant new energy supplies to Europe, further diversifying its sources of energy and providing new supplies of natural gas which will be essential in the energy transition.”
At offshore, the Shah Deniz 2 gas development project comprises 26 subsea wells, 500km subsea pipelines and flowlines, and two new bridge-linked platforms.
In addition, it includes the new South Caucasus pipeline expansion with 428km of pipeline in Azerbaijan and 59km in Georgia, along with two new compressor stations that carry gas to Turkey.
