Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAKU897
2008-09-19 11:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJAN ACG FIELD OIL PRODUCTION STILL WAY DOWN
how-toVZCZCXRO6731 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHKB #0897 2631116 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191116Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0032 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000897
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AJ ENRG
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN ACG FIELD OIL PRODUCTION STILL WAY DOWN
DUE TO GAS LEAK
REF: BAKU 883
Classified By: Polec Counselor Robert Garverick, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000897
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AJ ENRG
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN ACG FIELD OIL PRODUCTION STILL WAY DOWN
DUE TO GAS LEAK
REF: BAKU 883
Classified By: Polec Counselor Robert Garverick, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) According to BP Azerbaijan Vice-President for
Communications and External Affairs Seymour Khalilov, as of
1400 hours local time, Friday September 19, oil production
from the offshore ACG mega-field is down from a pre-incident
level of over 900,000 bpd to approximately 250,000 bpd (NOTE:
other informed sources have told Energyoff the production
level is closer to 200,000 bpd).
2. (C) Production is still shut in at Central Azeri and
Western Azeri Platforms, with "a couple of wells" still
operating in the Eastern Azeri Platform. The Chiraq and Deep
Water Gunashli platforms within the ACG field are still
operational.
BP PLAN OF ATTACK
3. (C) ACG Operator BP sent a helicopter to fly over the
Central Azeri Platform (the source of the gas leak) on
Thursday, September 18. The helicopter noted gas bubbles
still emerging from three locations around the platform,
although it is unknown whether these bubbles were coming from
the same source or separate ones. BP is trying to send a
helicopter again today if it can get permission from the GOAJ
Defense Ministry, who up to now has been "very unhelpful,"
insisting that BP cannot fly helicopters over the area since
BP will have cameras and be taking pictures. Conversely,
Khalilov said the GOAJ Foreign Ministry has been very helpful
in helping BP with the foreign national workers who were
taken off the Central Azeri Platform.
4. (C) Khalilov said if BP can get a helicopter over the
Central Azeri Platform today during daylight hours it will
seek to use the information gained to fashion the best and
safest angle of approach for the vessel carrying the ROV
(remotely operated vehicle) that BP will use to conduct
underwater assessments. The helicopter fly-over will also
help determine how close to the platform the vessel can
safely approach.
5. (C) Khalilov said that BP would inform the GOAJ "early
next week" of what it has learned and what it plans to do.
Khalilov could not even hazard a guess as to how long
production will stay at current low levels (NOTE: Other
informed sources have told Energyoff that it was not yet
clear what was wrong or when production would resume, but, in
the words of one interlocutor, "I don't have a good
feeling.") Khalilov told EnergyOff that were production to
continue at the current low levels past early-mid next week,
oil deliveries via the BTC pipeline to the Ceyhun terminals
would be affected.
LU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AJ ENRG
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN ACG FIELD OIL PRODUCTION STILL WAY DOWN
DUE TO GAS LEAK
REF: BAKU 883
Classified By: Polec Counselor Robert Garverick, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) According to BP Azerbaijan Vice-President for
Communications and External Affairs Seymour Khalilov, as of
1400 hours local time, Friday September 19, oil production
from the offshore ACG mega-field is down from a pre-incident
level of over 900,000 bpd to approximately 250,000 bpd (NOTE:
other informed sources have told Energyoff the production
level is closer to 200,000 bpd).
2. (C) Production is still shut in at Central Azeri and
Western Azeri Platforms, with "a couple of wells" still
operating in the Eastern Azeri Platform. The Chiraq and Deep
Water Gunashli platforms within the ACG field are still
operational.
BP PLAN OF ATTACK
3. (C) ACG Operator BP sent a helicopter to fly over the
Central Azeri Platform (the source of the gas leak) on
Thursday, September 18. The helicopter noted gas bubbles
still emerging from three locations around the platform,
although it is unknown whether these bubbles were coming from
the same source or separate ones. BP is trying to send a
helicopter again today if it can get permission from the GOAJ
Defense Ministry, who up to now has been "very unhelpful,"
insisting that BP cannot fly helicopters over the area since
BP will have cameras and be taking pictures. Conversely,
Khalilov said the GOAJ Foreign Ministry has been very helpful
in helping BP with the foreign national workers who were
taken off the Central Azeri Platform.
4. (C) Khalilov said if BP can get a helicopter over the
Central Azeri Platform today during daylight hours it will
seek to use the information gained to fashion the best and
safest angle of approach for the vessel carrying the ROV
(remotely operated vehicle) that BP will use to conduct
underwater assessments. The helicopter fly-over will also
help determine how close to the platform the vessel can
safely approach.
5. (C) Khalilov said that BP would inform the GOAJ "early
next week" of what it has learned and what it plans to do.
Khalilov could not even hazard a guess as to how long
production will stay at current low levels (NOTE: Other
informed sources have told Energyoff that it was not yet
clear what was wrong or when production would resume, but, in
the words of one interlocutor, "I don't have a good
feeling.") Khalilov told EnergyOff that were production to
continue at the current low levels past early-mid next week,
oil deliveries via the BTC pipeline to the Ceyhun terminals
would be affected.
LU