In 2014 it is not planned to resume oil production on the Kashagan field in Kazakhstan, reported North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), which has been developing the field.
“Resumption of production will depend on the results of the study, which must be ready by the end of quarter 2, but the production is not expected to be resumed in 2014,” NCOC reported.
According to the current estimate based on results of the study submitted up to now, the oil and gas pipelines need full replacement, which will be confirmed after completion of the study. The operator has been working on the plan of full replacement of the pipeline, which is planned to be completed by mid-2014.
The plan envisages inviting the tenders to select suppliers and contractors and define the materials that will be used with the current equipment. The goal is to work out the efficient plan to replace the pipelines with the possibility of prompt resumption of production. In order not to lose time and as a precaution measure, the consortium has already started the tender to purchase the pipe segments.
Oil production on the Kashagan field started on September 11, 2013. But on September 24, 2013 the operation was suspended after detection of gas leakage on the ground pipeline from the island D to the oil and gas installation on the Bolashak plant.
