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LUKOIL TO MODERNIZE "SHELF-7"
Russian Lukoil has announced a tender for the upgrade of "Shelf-7" semi-submersible drilling rig currently used in Astrakhan, Russia, as a number of companies have voiced an interest in taking part.
According to Lukoil, after being modernized, the rig will be capable of drilling wells in water depths of over 600 meters. Today, only "Istiglal" SSDR can be used in such drilling.
The upgrade requires some $250 million. It is not ruled out that Azeri enterprises will be involved in the upgrade.
"Shelf-7" used to be a bone of contention between Azerbaijan and Russia.
EXPLORATORY DRILLING ON OGUZ BEHIND SCHEDULE
ExxonMobil has started preparations for drilling of an exploratory well on Oguz prospect. The company's spokesman on drilling issues Boris Zuvkov told AssA-Irada Thursday that drilling was earlier scheduled to commence in late March and early April, but due the still ongoing operations on Talysh-Daniz, it may delay. After the work on Talysh-Daniz is over, the "Gurtulush" semi-submersible drilling rig will be towed to Oguz.
Talysh-Daniz operator, TotalFinaElf, has declined to spell out when the drilling will be completed.
AIOC PRODUCES 1.5 MLN TONS IN FIRST QUARTER
In the first quarter of this year, 1.5 million tons of oil were produced off "Chirag-1" platform as part of the Contract of the Century, an AIOC source said Monday. The entire quantity of oil was pumped into the Baku-Supsa pipeline, while as much of light oil was exported to world markets. 11 oil tankers were lifted from the Black Sea port of Supsa, 2 of which were leaded with SOCAR profit oil and 9 with the AIOC oil.
SOCAR FULFILS MARCH OIL PRODUCTION PLAN
In March 2001, 760,700 tons of oil were produced instead of the planned 755,700 (100.7%). The plan has been over-fulfilled off and onshore. Offshore, 629,300 tons were produced (100.1%) and onshore 131,400 tons (104%).
The March gas production plan has been under-fulfilled: with the plan of 495,700,000 cubic meters 481,900,000 were produced (97.2%). 383,400,000 cubic meters were produced offshore (97.9%) and 21,500,000 cubic meters onshore (104.4%).
The AIOC produced 77,400,000 cubic meters of gas (92.5%).
3-MONTH GAS PRODUCTION PLAN UNDER-FULFILLED
In the first three months of the year, instead of the planned 2,193,900 tons of oil 2,220,800 tons were produced (101.2%). As compared to 2000, this is 0.1% less. Three-month offshore and onshore plan has been over-fulfilled, with 1,841,300 tons of oil produced offshore (100.8%) and 379,500 tons onshore (103.4%).
Gas production in January-March constituted 1,357,100,000 cubic meters (94.3%), of which 1,105,300,000 cubic meters were produced offshore (97.2%) and 62,400,000 cubic meters onshore (104.5%).
The AIOC produced 189,400,000 cubic meters of gas (77.9%) in the first quarter.
DRILLING PLAN FULFILLED MAINLY OFFSHORE
Offshore drilling workers have fulfilled both March and quarterly drilling plans by 100.3% and 106.9% respectively. In March, the footage was 7,225 meters, of which 6,581 meters occurred on production wells and 644 meters on exploratory ones.
In the first quarter, offshore footage constituted 20,768 meters, including 19,512 meters production and 1,256 exploratory. However, the successful performance is still behind the first quarter of 2000, which happened exclusively due to the decline in drilling of production wells. Offshore exploratory drilling performance has significantly improved.
Onshore production drilling performance - 3,769 meters in March (66.3%) and 11,541 meters in the first quarter (74.3%) - was way below the forecast but over last year's. As far as onshore exploration drilling is concerned, the March plan has been fulfilled by 76.5% and quarterly by 125.1%, according to SOCAR.
Number of operating
wells down
According to SOCAR, there were 6,945 active wells as of January 1, 2001, including 1,371 offshore and 5,574 onshore. In the first quarter, 140 wells were put into service, 202 taken out of service. Thus, as of April 1, the total number reduced by 62 to 6,883. More wells were closed than put into service both offshore (36 against 62) and onshore (104 against 140).
"AZERNEFTYAG" HIKES EXPORTS
The "AzerNeftYag" refinery exported 251,927 tons of oil products in the first quarter, or 6% over 2000. According to a SOCAR source, 9,300 tons of gasoline, 36,794 tons of kerosene, 201,652 tons of diesel, 170 tons of bitumen, and 4,011 tons of lubricants have been exported.
In the first quarter of 2001, the refinery didn't export bitumen and lubricants at all.
DEVON COMMENCES PRODUCTION FROM EGYPTIAN FIELD; ANNOUNCES NEW OIL DISCOVERY
Devon Energy Corporation reported initial production from its North July field in the Gulf of Suez, offshore Egypt. The North July #1 is currently flowing 5,500 barrels of oil and three million cubic feet of gas per day. The producing interval is 9,790 to 9,894 feet in the Rudeis formation. North July is located 5 miles offshore in 169 feet of water. The well was drilled in 1998, and construction of a three-slot platform commenced in 2000.
Devon is the operator of the joint venture and owns a 100 percent working interest. Concurrently, Devon also announced a new discovery in the south of the Gulf of Suez. The well was drilled on the South-West Gebel El-Zeit concession six miles offshore in 86 feet of water.
During testing, the SWGEZ-2 well flowed at a combined rate of 6,700 barrels of oil and 2.4 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. The results are from two tested intervals within the Nubia/Matulla formation between 7,786 and 7,894 feet. The well was drilled to a total depth of 8,040 feet.
Devon is the operator of the concession and owns a 43.75 percent working interest. Partners include Ocean Energy with a 43.75 percent working interest and Forum Exploration with a 12.5 percent working interest. Devon plans to conduct a facilities and engineering study to evaluate development alternatives for the South-West Gebel El-Zeit discovery. Production will require construction of a production platform and pipeline. In Azerbaijan Devon Energy is represented by its subsidiary Pennzoil Caspian Corporation.
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Issue No.15 (197), 2001
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