BP to Up Environmental Requirements for Shah Deniz

BP is set to up the safety requirements of its equipment during the second phase of the Shah Deniz project in Azerbaijan.

Trend reports that a question regarding the equipment to be used at Shah Deniz II was raised yesterday at a meeting between operator of the field BP and shareholder SOCAR, Azerbaijan's state-owned oil and gas company. At this meeting, Vice President of BP Al Cook and SOCAR Vice President Rafig Huseynzade.

"Given the previous projects implemented by BP in Azerbaijan within the Shah Deniz-2 project, it was recommended to install equipment with higher environmental requirements," a report following the meeting said, Trend reports.

The second phase of the Shah Deniz field, which is estimated to be completed at a cost of $10 billion, will see the construction of two platforms as well as twenty subsea wells.

BP is the operator of the Shah Deniz field with a 25.5 per cent stake while SOCAR holds a 10 per cent stake. Statoil holds an equal share in the project as BP with a 25.5 per cent stake. Total, Nico and LukAgip, a joint company of Eni and Lukoil, all hold a 10 per cent stake. Turkish TPAO holds the remaining 9 per cent stake.

Shah Deniz is one of the largest gas fields in the world with an estimated 2.55 trillion cubic metres of gas in place and estimated gas reserves at 3.45 trillion cubic metres.