Absheron

Absheron Gas and Condensate Field Profile

Location

The Absheron gas and condensate field is located approximately 100 kilometers south of Baku, Azerbaijan, in the Caspian Sea. It is situated within the Absheron block, about 25 kilometers away from the Shah Deniz gas and condensate field, and lies in 500 meters of water depth.

Ownership and Partners

The field is being developed by Absheron Petroleum (JOCAP), a 50:50 joint venture between the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and TotalEnergies. However, in August 2023, TotalEnergies and SOCAR signed an agreement to sell 15% interest each in the field to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Upon approval, this will result in TotalEnergies and SOCAR each owning 35%, and ADNOC owning 30% of the field.

Discovery and Reserves

The Absheron field was discovered by the Absheron X-2 exploration well, drilled in 2011 using Maersk Drilling’s Heydar Aliyev drilling rig. The field is estimated to contain 350 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas and more than 45 million tonnes of gas condensate.

Development Phases

The development of the Absheron field is being carried out in phases. The Early Production Scheme (EPS) phase, which began production in July 2023, involves the development of the top reservoirs, including the Fasila and Balakhany formations. This phase also enables field appraisal for future development phases. Later phases will focus on the development of deeper and shallower reservoirs.

Infrastructure and Production

The EPS phase connects a subsea production well to a new gas processing platform linked to SOCAR's existing facilities in Oil Rocks. This setup has a production capacity of 4 million cubic meters of gas per day and 12,000 barrels of condensate per day. The gas is sold in the domestic market of Azerbaijan, while the condensate is exported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline as part of a swap agreement.

The project utilizes pipe-in-pipe technology with 12-inch multilayer insulated pipes to transport the oil and gas over 34.3 kilometers to the platform. The development includes four main and six auxiliary 10,000-ton jackets, bridges, overpasses, torch systems, submarines, pipelines, and modules.

Drilling and Rig Details

The high-pressure reservoirs of the Absheron field are located roughly 6,500 meters below sea level, requiring a robust and efficient drilling rig. A new-generation semisubmersible drilling rig built at the Baku shipyard is being used for this purpose. This rig can drill up to a depth of 40,000 feet and operate in 1,000 meters of water depth. It features an 800-meter self-contained eight-point mooring system capable of withstanding high wind speeds and incorporates the latest safety and environmental features.

Future Expansion

An expansion project, known as Absheron Stage 2, is currently in the feasibility stage and is expected to start in 2028. This phase will further develop the field's reserves, with peak production anticipated in 2027. Production from the field is expected to continue until it reaches its economic limit in 2076.

Contractors and Partners Involved

Key contractors involved in the Absheron project include Petrofac, National Company KazMunayGas, EnerMech Group, Enhanced Well Technologies, and Absheron Drilling.

Economic and Strategic Importance

The Absheron gas field is crucial for Azerbaijan, helping to address gas shortages due to increasing domestic consumption and the export of gas from the Shah Deniz field. The project aligns with TotalEnergies' strategy of meeting growing gas demand at competitive technical costs and low greenhouse gas emissions intensity.

Historical Context and TotalEnergies' Strategy

TotalEnergies has been present in Azerbaijan since 1996. Despite withdrawing from other significant projects like the Shah Deniz Full Field Development and related infrastructure such as the Trans Anatolia Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP), TotalEnergies has focused its efforts on the Absheron project. This decision reflects a strategic shift towards developing the Absheron field, which is expected to be a major gas supplier in the region.