BP Make Ultra-Deep Azerbaijan Discovery

Oil major BP has made a "significant" gas discovery in the ultra-deep waters of the Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan.

The discovery was made at the SDX-04 appraisal and exploration well, located 70km south-east of Baku in the Caspian Sea.

The well was drilled to a depth of more than 7,300m – a record drilling depth for the Caspian Sea.

"Such a deep, high-pressure reservoir will require new technologies that are presently under development in the industry," says president of BP Azerbaijan, Bill Schrader.

BP says it will carry out an appraisal on the structure over the next few years.

Together with operator BP, the Shah Deniz production partnership consists of StatoilHydro, who have a 25.5 percent share, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), Lukoil, Nico Total and TPAO.

By staff writer