Socar to Boost Bulla Deniz Output

Azerbaijan's state producer Socar plans to commission two production wells in the Bulla Deniz offshore gas/condensate field in the next three months, increasing the field's gas output by 1.3mn m³/d (almost 0.5bn m³/yr).

Well number 78, to be drilled from offshore platform no. 6, will be put into operation in July. In September, it will commission well no.123 from offshore platform no.122. Each will produce 150 tons condensate per day; well no.78 will produce 0.5mn m³/d gas while well no.123 will produce 0.8mn m³/d.

Socar adds that in 2018 it plans to commission two more Bulla Deniz production wells, and to commission the new, stationary offshore platform no. 12, construction of which began in 1Q 2017; the latter is designed to drill five production wells and be installed at a water depth of 30 meters.

Expected total daily production from these later two wells will be 2.5mn m³ and 500 tons of condensate.

The offshore field Bulla Deniz was discovered in 1973 and started production in 1975. In August 2013 after exploration drilling at a depth of 5,900 - 6,100 metres, new gas layers were discovered. Its development is being handled by a unit of upstream subsidiary Azneft named after N Narimanov, the 1920s leader of Soviet Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Desk