BP starts offshore construction for Shah Deniz Compression project

BP has started offshore construction work on the $2.9 billion Shah Deniz Compression (ŞDK) project at the Shah Deniz gas-condensate field in Azerbaijan, Report.az reported, citing BP Azerbaijan.

Over the past several weeks, four pipe piles that will form the base of the ŞDK platform's support block were successfully transported to the sea and installed. The operations were carried out using the Xankəndi subsea construction vessel. Each pile is about 70 metres long, 108 inches in diameter and weighs 292 tonnes, making them the largest-diameter pipe piles BP has installed in the Caspian to date. A 188-tonne subsea support frame was used to keep the piles stable and vertical, and pile plug technology was applied for the first time in BP's regional operations.

BP said completing this stage paves the way for installing the platform's support block in the first half of 2028. The project aims to produce low-pressure gas reserves from the field and increase its gas recovery factor. It is expected to yield about 50 billion cubic metres of gas and about 25 million barrels of condensate for export. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2029.