Kashagan's first oil to flow September 9

The start of oil production at the giant Kashagan oilfield is scheduled for September 9, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing KazMunaiGas Head Sauat Mynbayev as saying September 7.

“We are expecting the start in two days (…) That is the first, so-called pilot, oil. It should reach a certain level for us to announce the start of commercial production”, Mr. Mynbayev told journalists in Astana.

At the same time he emphasized it would take up to three weeks before the launch of commercial production. However, commercial production may start as early as before October 1.

Tengrinews.kz reported earlier that Kazakhstan and China have agreed on the sales of a 8.4% stake in Kashagan to China’s CNPC. A respective agreement was signed September 7 in Astana at the sitting of the Kazakh-Chinese Business Council.

The Kashagan field, named after a 19th century Kazakh poet from Mangistau, is located in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea and extends over a surface area of approximately 75 kilometers by 45 kilometers. The reservoir lies some 4,200 meters below the shallow waters of the northern part of the Caspian Sea and is highly pressured (770 bar of initial pressure). The crude oil that it contains has high ‘sour gas’ content.

The development of Kashagan, in the harsh offshore environment of the northern part of the Caspian Sea, represents a unique combination of technical and supply chain complexity. The combined safety, engineering, logistical and environmental challenges make it one of the largest and most complex industrial projects currently being developed anywhere in the world.

According to Kazakhstan geologists, geological reserves of Kashagan are estimated at 4.8 billion tons of oil. According to the project’s operator, the oilfield’s reserves are estimated at 38 billion barrels, with 10 billion barrels being recoverable. Besides, natural gas reserves are estimated at over 1 trillion cubic meters. The consortium developing the field comprises Eni, Shell, ExxonMobil, Total and KazMunaiGaz (all with a 16.81% stake) as well as ConocoPhillips (8.4%) and Japan's Inpex (7.56%).

NCOC, a consortium developing the giant Kashagan oilfield, plans to produce 75 000 barrels of oil per day at the initial production stage, Tengrinews.kz reported mid-May 2012, citing NCOC Vice Managing Director Zhakyp Marabayev as saying on the sidelines of a CIS summit on oil and gas.

According to him, plans are there to bring the production figure up to 350 000 barrels a day or even up to 450 000 barrels a day at the first stage of the oilfield development.

“The current facilities enable to produce up to 350 000 barrels a day (…) Should the gas injection capacities be expanded, we could produce up to 450 000 barrels a day”, he said at that time.

ConocoPhillips will sell its 8.4-percent stake in Kashagan to KazMunaiGas for $5 billion, as previously reported.

For more information see:http://en.tengrinews.kz/markets/Oil-production-at-the-giant-Kashagan-oilfield-to-start-September-9-22481/
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