Dan Ulduzu | |
---|---|
Country | Azerbaijan |
Location | near Absheron peninsula |
Offshore/onshore | offshore |
Operator | SOCAR |
Partners | Amoco (30%), SOCAR (20%), Itochu (20%), Unocal (25.5%), Delta Oil Company (4.5%) |
Field history | |
Discovery | 1970s |
Start of development | 1997 |
Production | |
Estimated oil in place | 40 million tonnes (~ 50×10 6 m3 or 300 million bbl) |
Estimated gas in place | 25×10 9 m3 (880×10 9 cu ft) |
Producing formations | Upper Cretaceous |
Dan Ulduzu field is an oil and gas field located 105 km (65 mi) northeast of Baku, Azerbaijan, west of Karabakh field, in the northern section of Absheron archipelago.[1][2] In Azerbaijani, Dan Ulduzu means Pole Star.
The Production sharing agreement (PSA) for exploration, development and production between SOCAR and NAOC consortium for Dan-Ulduzu-Ashrafi bloc was signed on December 14, 1996. The contract area is 453 km2.[3] The water depth on location is 160 metres (520 ft) – 180 metres (590 ft).[1] According to the contract, 3 exploration wells would be drilled and if successful, the production would start in 2003 with an intended output to reach 7 million tons per year by 2007. Azerbaijan would also have been paid $75 million in bonuses. Total capital investment was estimated at $2.5 billion.[4] After drilling of 3 exploration wells, 2 million tons of oil was discovered at Dan Ulduzu and 6 million tons was found at Ashrafi field in January 1998.[5] During the exploration stage, in 1998-2001, the price for barrel of oil was below $20.[6] Due to low prices, the bloc was not considered commercially viable.[7] On March 7, 2000, the contract for exploration ended and was not renewed by the consortium.[2]
The project was operated by North Absheron Operating Company (NAOC) which consisted of the operator Amoco (acquired by BP) (30%), SOCAR (20%), Itochu (20%), Unocal (25.5%), Delta Oil Company (4.5%).[8] The company had spent a total of $64.5 million on exploration.[6] The initial right for development of the field was granted to Amoco and Unocal in 1992. The other partners joined in during the mid-1990s.[9]
In early 2004, SOCAR confirmed plans to revitalize the project at Dan Ulduzu and Ashrafi fields in 2007.[10] SOCAR intends to drill 19 wells by 2015, which will require an investment of 2.76 billion Azerbaijani manats.[11][12] Currently, the drilling is being carried out by Caspian Drilling Company, contracted for various projects by SOCAR.[13]