No downtime: BP to keep ACG platforms running this year

BP has no plans to shut down platforms at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block in 2025 for maintenance, BP-Azerbaijan spokesperson Tamam Bayatly has said, according to Report.

"This year, none of the platforms [at ACG] will be stopped for maintenance," Bayatly told journalists.

In 2024, the company halted operations at the Deepwater Gunashli platform for 15 days as part of scheduled maintenance. Such programs are carried out on a planned basis and included in the annual work schedule and budget.

“We have no plans to halt platforms this year,” Bayatly confirmed.

As reported, oil production from the ACG block in 2024 amounted to 16 million tons, reflecting an 11.1% decline.

The average daily oil output in 2024 was 342,000 barrels (compared to 363,000 barrels in 2023). Production from the Chirag platform averaged 23,000 barrels per day (bpd), maintaining 2023 levels. Central Azeri produced 97,000 bpd (up from 96,000 bpd in 2023), West Azeri – 75,000 bpd (down from 86,000 bpd), East Azeri – 51,000 bpd (compared to 58,000 bpd), Deepwater Gunashli – 57,000 bpd (down from 67,000 bpd), West Chirag – 29,000 bpd (compared to 33,000 bpd), and Central East Azeri – 10,000 bpd.

The contract for developing the Azeri, Chirag, and Deepwater Gunashli fields was initially signed in 1994 and was set to expire in 2024. However, in 2017, a new contract was signed, extending the project until 2050.

Under the new agreement, project ownership is distributed as follows:

BP plc (operator) – 30.37%
State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) – 31.655%
MOL (Hungary) – 9.57%
ExxonMobil (USA) – 6.79%
ONGC Videsh (India) – 2.925%
Inpex Corp. (Japan) – 9.31%
Itochu Oil (Japan) – 3.65%
TPAO (Türkiye) – 5.73%.