BP: ACE project reached 60% progress milestone

During the third quarter of the year, the Azeri Central East (ACE) project progressed according to the plan along with the other bp-operated activities.

Report informs, citing BP, that most of the remaining major equipment was delivered to Baku during the quarter. The delivery of the final four packages is planned for the fourth quarter of 2021 and will complete the shipment of all equipment as part of the project.

Fabrication activities on the topsides and drilling facilities continued at the fabrication yard in Bibi-Heybat. This included progressing the pipe erection and hydrotesting, cable pulling and installation of the final topsides weather deck panel and lower derrick. All living quarters modules were successfully installed on the topsides followed by the commencement of integration and internal hook-up. Drilling mechanical completion handovers progressed as planned, the drilling commissioning at grade commenced in the main drilling support and drilling equipment set modules.

At the Heydar Aliyev Baku Deepwater Jackets factory (BDJF), the jacket fabrication continued with the centre box skidding completed and assembly of the jacket towers commenced.

Subsea fabrication of the structures and spools is close to completion. Subsea installation commenced with the subsea construction vessel Khankendi installing all subsea crossing mattresses.

The project also progressed the offshore installation works associated with the spare power scope on the East Azeri platform, with the gas insulated switchgear (GIS) module installed offshore.

At the end of the third quarter, the ACE project reached the 60% progress milestone. The project construction activities are currently at peak and involve about 5,500 people across Baku, Europe and the UK, with the majority being Azerbaijani nationals.

Overall, the engineering, procurement and fabrication works remain on track to support first production from the ACE project in 2023.

ACG is the largest oil field in Azerbaijan. The first contract for a block of fields was signed on September 20, 1994. On September 14, 2017, an updated production sharing agreement was signed, which provides for the development of the fields until the end of 2049.

The share distribution of ACG shareholders is as follows: BP (30.37%), SOCAR (25.0%), MOL Group (9.57%, replacing Chevron from April 16, 2020), INPEX (9.31%), Equinor (7.27%), ExxonMobil (6.79%), TPAO (5.73%), ITOCHU (3.65%), ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) (2.31%).