BP Plc
(
BP
) received an additional 5-year extension (2031 to 2036) from
Azerbaijan related to the Shah Deniz gas project. The extension
follows the company's deferment of the start date for phase 2 of
the project.
The British energy major earlier planned 2018 for the first gas
from the second phase of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas project.
Now, BP has set the end of 2017for the start-up.
In response to this, Azerbaijan has extended the Shah Deniz
production sharing agreement (PSA). BP has been pumping gas in
Shah Deniz since the start of its first phase in 2006, with a
capacity of 8 billion cubic meters (Bcm). The second phase is
estimated to generate an additional 16 Bcm per year.
Shah Deniz stands as Azerbaijan's largest gas field and is
estimated to hold 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas. The offshore
Shah Deniz Phase 2 venture is operated by the British oil giant,
with the other partners being
Statoil ASA
(
STO
),
Total SA
(
TOT
), the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Lukoil, Turkiye
Petrolleri and Naftiran Intertrade.
BP planned to invest $10 billion for the second phase and the
project partners expect to transport Azeri gas by a new pipeline
to Europe as well as to the existing markets in Georgia and
Turkey. In connection with the pipeline stage in Turkey, Vice
President SOCAR, Elshad Nassirov, said that the BP-led consortium
has already received approval for the construction of the
pipeline for phase 2.
Ahead of Turkey, the co-ventures can select the Nabucco-West
pipeline into Austria or the rival Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TAP)
into Italy. A decision is expected by the middle of this year.
The Shah Deniz group is entitled to have a 50% interest in each
of the two projects.
Last year, the U.K. major faced hurdles related to the
development of the oilfield block Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) in
the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. BP has been sharply
criticized by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for lagging in
production from several Caspian Sea oil fields.
Lower-than-expected output has cost the Azerbaijan state an
estimated US$8.1billion in revenues.
BP is one of the world's largest energy companies, providing
customers fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light,
retail services and petrochemical products. Although near-term
production hiccups remain in Azerbaijan, BP continues to focus on
long-term operations and is in discussion with the country for
extending the contract and working on the fields after 2024.
ACG oilfields are divided between the operator BP with a 35.8%
share and
Chevron Corp.
(
CVX
), Inpex, SOCAR, Statoil,
ExxonMobil Corporation
(
XOM
), TPAO, Itocu, and
Hess Corporation
(
HES
).
BP has a Zacks Rank #3, which is equivalent to a Hold rating for
a period of one to three months.
BP PLC (BP): Free Stock Analysis Report
CHEVRON CORP (CVX): Free Stock Analysis
Report
STATOIL ASA-ADR (STO): Free Stock Analysis
Report
TOTAL FINA SA (TOT): Free Stock Analysis
Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment
Research