Azeri (Azerbaijani: Azəri) is an offshore oil field in the Caspian Sea, located 100km (100miles) 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 128m (420feet) depth of water in the central part of the Azeri field. The platform is constructed to produce approximately 420000oilbbl/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 120m (390feet) depth of water and was constructed to produce oil from the western section of Azeri field. West Azeri adds 300000oilbbl/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 150m (490feet) depth of water and was constructed to produce oil from the eastern section of Azeri field. East Azeri produces 260000oilbbl/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 1e9cuft/d utilizing 5 gas injection wells. Water injection capacity is 1Moilbbl/d utilizing 12 water injection wells. Gas export capacity stands at 250e6cuft/d. 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]