SOCAR State Oil of Azerbaijan Republic : President inspects “Shah Deniz-2” project development

22 September 2016

On September 22, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, BP Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey Gordon Birrell visited the ATA (AMEC/Tekfen/Azfen) construction yard and saw the processes within the 'Shahdeniz-2' project. They were informed that the implementation of these projects has continued successfully. The project is now over 82 percent complete in terms of engineering, procurement and construction and remains on target for first gas from SD2 in 2018. Ten production wells have already been drilled using the Heydar Aliyev and İstiqlal drilling rigs in preparation for the first gas from the SD-2 and subsequent production ramp up. Project activities continue at ATA (AMEC/Tekfen/Azfen) yard and Baku Deepwater Jackets Factory and along the pipeline route. In May 2016, the subsea construction vessel 'Khankendi', specifically designed and built to install the subsea structures of the SD-2 gas development project, was re-floated into the Caspian Sea. For the first time in the history of Azerbaijan's world-class construction sites, the construction of the SD-2 platforms are being undertaken 100 percent in the country. The two topside units are currently being built at the Azfen construction yard in Bibi-Heybat by the ATA consortium. The topside units are on track for offshore installation during the summer of 2017. To date the construction of two topside units is 93 percent complete - the living quarters and utilities platform deck - 98 percent and the production and risers platform deck - 91 percent. Commissioning activities started in March 2016 and currently over 40 percent complete. South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion activities continue on schedule and overall 45 percent of the construction scope already completed.

One of the key benefits of the projects is to create thousands of local jobs during the construction phase. To date, over 24 000 people have been involved in construction activities across all main contracts in Azerbaijan and over 80% of them are Azerbaijani nationals.

Rovnag Abdullayev and Gordon Birrell positively valued the construction work done within the 'Shah Deniz -2' project and wished success to the constructors.