Operation of the Trust
In recent years the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has been introducing crucial measures to foster oil and gas production in the country. In this regard the operation of the Complex Drilling Works Trust (CDWT) looks very efficient. The Trust, offering the full-range services for the oil and gas industry, successfully ended the 2014 year. Throughout the last year the CDWT’s staff drilled 111,106 meters both onshore and offshore. During the year the Trust launched drilling of 74 wells. Drilling operations at 71 wells drilling were finalized and 71 wells were handed over to the customer. The CDWT performs exploration and production drilling operations on 14 domestic SOCAR-owned onshore and offshore fields such as the Guba-Khazaryany petroliferous region (PR), Absheron PR, Ashaghy Kuryany PR, Nakhchivan PR, the petroliferous region between the Kur and Gabyrry rivers and of Baku and Absheron archipelagoes, by using techniques and technologies meeting international standards.
Established on March 12, 2007 in line with the Executive Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan #539 dated March 7, 2007, for eight years the Trust has positioned itself as a reliable partner. At present the Complex Drilling Works Trust operates six production units (Bulla-8 March-Umid PU, Gunashli PU, Neft Dashlary PU, Garadagh-Galmaz PU, Absheron PU and Siazan PU), Gazmaservis and Logistics Unit, Backfill Unit and Storage Facilities Unit.
It stands to mention that the Trust does not just rest on laurels and stays strongly committed to improving its operation. In particular, in order to conduct exploratory drilling aimed at maintenance of stable oil production in the republic, the Trust tightly cooperates with SOCAR departments, which possess a big scientific potential.
Field development
Only 8 years have passed since when the Complex Drilling Works Trust was established and despite this the trust has already performed drilling work on such geologically challenging areas as Umid, Bulla-Deniz, Goshadash, Jahandar, Turkan, Beyimdagh-Tekchay, Pirallahi Island, the sites in Muradkhanly, and successfully fulfilled the exploration agenda set by SOCAR. The result of the successful operation was a discovery of the Umid gas-condensate field.
Drilling works on platform #1 on the Umid field were performed by means of the cutting-edge ZJ 70/4500DZ top-drive drilling rig, which is the latest achievement of drilling men. It was purchased in the USA and China and meets the up-to-date technical and technological requirements.
Drilling operations are performed, using oil-based mud of Azəri Mİ Drilling Fluids LTD Company and LWD/MWD/PWD telemeter measuring devices of Schlumberger, which assembled the lower section of the drilling string. Of special notice is the fact that drilling of the wildcat well #10 from this platform was completed 4 months ahead of the schedule. Drilling on this well had been performed using brand-new equipment and technologies. Umid field is one of the largest in the country in terms of gas reserves. In particular, its current reserves are estimated at 200 bcm of gas and 40 million tonnes of condensate.
Among the fields of particular significance, Bulla Deniz field is considerably important. The commissioning of the platform #122 held in April 2014 was attended by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and other representatives of SOCAR’s management. The ten-block jacket for drilling of three offshore production wells was installed at the sea depth of 26 meters. The first well on this platform (well #124) was designed for drilling to the VIII horizon of the pay thickness. It stands to mention that brand-new technologies are used at this well. These include oil-based mud, downhole motors, brand-new hydraulic underreamers, bicentric drill bits and LWD/MWD/PWD telemeter measuring devices of Schlumberger. The Complex Drilling Works Trust also continues drilling works on the Gunashli field. Drilling works are now in process on platforms #8, 14 and 19 on wells #34, 353 and 37 respectively. In 2014 wells#343 and 341 drilled at the Gunashli field were handed over to the field men with the high output estimated 100 tonnes of oil, 14,000 cubic metres of gas and 37 tonnes of oil, 7,000 cubic meters of gas respectively. The Trust also continues operations from platform #112 at well#112 of the Chilov field. Drilling of 10 wells at this platform is scheduled for implementation. The Complex Drilling Works Trust’s staff also continues drilling work on platforms #1887, 2585, 2521, 2150 and 418А on the Neft Dashlary field.
Brand-new technology infusion
The Trust strongly prioritises adopting brand-new technologies. To that end, SOCAR, in particular, has purchased Chinese-made ZJ-50, ZJ-70 and ZJ-40 mobile drilling rigs for the Complex Drilling Works Trust. One of these mobile rigs was involved in drilling on Eldaroyugu site to drill a stratigraphic test well, and the other one in drilling operations nearby the Garadagh gas storage. New drilling rigs are completely automatic and environmentally safe.
Important activities have been performed in recent years to improve the gas demand of households in the autumn/winter months. Consistent works are in process to expand the capacities of domestic Galmaz and Garadagh underground gas storages as provided by the agenda prepared by the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At present Azneft PU continues drilling of new wells on Galmaz and Garadagh sites. Under the special agenda that SOCAR worked out for this purpose, in 2014 drilled and commissioned were wells #469, 480 and 478 on the Garadagh site and wells #630, 627 and 636 on the Galmaz site. Drilling of wells #482 and 483 has been finalised in Garadagh, preparatory work is now in process to implement well development and testing. The Trust’s personnel, who are using brand-new equipment, up-to-date machinery and advanced technologies, successfully continue exploration and production drilling, both onshore and offshore, in 2015, mobilizing all existing capacities to that end.
