BP not planning maintenance shutdowns for platforms at ACG, Shah Deniz in 2025

BAKU. March 6 (Interfax) - BP does not plan to shut down platforms at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block and the Shah Deniz field in 2025 for technical maintenance, BP-Azerbaijan spokesperson Tamam Bayatly told journalists.

"This year, none of the platforms will be shut down," Bayatly said.

In 2024, BP shut down the Deepwater Gunashli platform at ACG for maintenance for 15 days. Such programs are carried out on a scheduled basis and are included in the annual work program and budget.

"We have not planned any platform shutdowns for the current year," she said.

At the Shah Deniz field, BP shut down the Shah Deniz Alpha platform on January 10 due to a technical failure in the subsea pipeline used to transport condensate from the platform to shore. To resolve the issue, production was halted, and all necessary repairs were carried out as quickly as possible. BP resumed production from the platform on January 18.

It was previously reported that in 2024, oil production at ACG totaled 125 million barrels, down 6%. At the Shah Deniz field, BP produced 28 billion cubic meters of gas last year, up 7.7%, and 35 million barrels of condensate, the same level as in 2023.

The contract for the development of the Azeri, Chirag and Deepwater Gunashli fields was signed on September 20, 1994 and expired in 2024. However, on September 14, 2017, a new contract for the development of the ACG block to 2050 was signed.

BP has a 30.37% stake in the project and SOCAR holds 31.655%. The other parties are Hungary's MOL with 9.57%, ExxonMobil with 6.79%, ONGC Videsh with 2.925%, Japan's Inpex and Itochu with 9.31% and 3.65%, respectively and Turkey's TPAO with 5.73%.

The contract to develop the Shah Deniz field was signed in 1996. BP, the operator, holds a 29.99% stake, Russia's Lukoil holds 19.99%, Turkey's TPAO owns 19%, Azerbaijan's Cenub Qaz Dehlizi owns 16.02%, Iran's NICO holds 10% and Hungary's MVM holds 5%.