BP-Azerbaijan halts operations at Shah Deniz Alpha platform due to subsea pipeline issue

BAKU. Jan 10 (Interfax) - BP-Azerbaijan, the technical operator for developing the Shah Deniz field, has suspended operations at the Alpha platform due to a malfunction in a subsea pipeline used for transporting condensate, the company told Interfax.

"There are no issues with the platform itself. The technical problem occurred in the subsea pipeline that transports condensate. The pipeline connects the Alpha platform to the Sangachal terminal. For this reason, we have suspended operations at this platform," BP-Azerbaijan said.

"The platform, its personnel, and associated facilities are completely safe," the company said. "All necessary measures are being undertaken to resolve the issue as quickly as possible," it said.

The Azerbaijani Energy Ministry previously said that 3.1 million tonnes of condensate were produced at Shah Deniz in January-November 2024, down 6.1% year-on-year.

The contract for developing the Shah Deniz field was signed in 1996. The current ownership structure includes British BP plc (operator - 29.99%), Lukoil (19.99%), Turkey's TPAO (19%), Azerbaijan's Cenub Qaz Dehlizi (16.02%), Iran's NICO (10%) and Hungary's MVM (5%).

Currently, gas and condensate production at the field is carried out from the Alpha platform as part of Stage-1 and the Bravo platform under Stage-2. Gas production began in December 2006.