Azeri (Azerbaijani: Azəri) is an offshore oil field in the Caspian Sea, located 100 km (62 mi) east of Baku, Azerbaijan and is a part of the larger Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) project. The Azeri field includes Central Azeri, West Azeri, East Azeri production platforms compression and water injection platform (C&WP).[1] The field was discovered in 1988, and originally it was named after 26 Baku Commissars.[2]
Central Azeri is a production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform located in nearly 128 m (420 ft) depth of water in the central part of the Azeri field. The platform is constructed to produce approximately 420,000 bbl/d (67,000 m3/d). The facilities on Central Azeri include:
Central Azeri has started its operations in February 2005[1]
West Azeri is a production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform located in 120 m (390 ft) depth of water and was constructed to produce oil from the western section of Azeri field. West Azeri adds 300,000 bbl/d (48,000 m3/d) to the overall ACG production.[3] The facilities on West Azeri include:
The platform has started its operations in December 2005.[1]
East Azeri is a production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform located in 150 m (490 ft) depth of water and was constructed to produce oil from the eastern section of Azeri field. East Azeri produces 260,000 bbl/d (41,000 m3/d). The facilities on East Azeri include:
The platform has started its operations in October 2006.[4]
The C&WP supplies Central, West and East Azeri platforms with water and gas injection services, manages gas export and provides electrical power using 10 Rolls-Royce turbines. The platform is bridge linked to Central Azeri platform.[1]
Gas injection capacity at C&WP is 1 billion cubic feet per day (28 million cubic metres per day) utilizing 5 gas injection wells. Water injection capacity is 1 million barrels per day (160 thousand cubic metres per day) utilizing 12 water injection wells. Gas export capacity stands at 250 million cubic feet per day (7.1 million cubic metres per day). Azeri C&WP has some of the largest water injection pumps and gas injection compressors among BP platforms worldwide. The topsides have been constructed in the ATA (AMEC-Azfen-Tekfen) construction yard in Bibi-Heybat, Azerbaijan.[5]
On 17 September 2008, a gas leak was discovered in the area of the Central Azeri platform after blowout in a gas-injection well.[6][7][8] The platform was shut down and the staff was evacuated.[6][7] As the West Azeri Platform was being powered by a cable from the Central Azeri Platform, it was also shut down.[9] BP, an operator of ACG, suspected a bad cement job caused the leaking gas.[10] Production at the West Azeri Platform resumed on 9 October 2008 and at the Central Azeri Platform in December 2008.[11][12]