bp Launches First Non-Associated Gas Production at Azerbaijan’s Giant ACG Field
SEATTLE (Oil Monster): bp reported on June 1 the commencement of commercial production of non-associated gas (NAG) at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
The milestone announcement of the first non-associated gas production at one of the world’s largest offshore oil developments came during the Baku Energy Week held in Baku.
The project is being developed by bp on behalf of the ACG consortium, which includes SOCAR, MOL, INPEX, ExxonMobil, TPAO, and ONGC Videsh. The participating interests of the ACG co-venturers in the NAG project are the same as in the existing ACG PSA: SOCAR holds a 35.3 percent stake, followed by bp (operator) with 30.37 percent. MOL owns 9.57 percent, INPEX 9.31 percent, ExxonMobil 6.79 percent, TPAO 5.73 percent, and ONGC Videsh 2.92 percent.
The initial gas-producing well was drilled from the existing West Chirag platform and represents the first step toward developing what is expected to become a major new source of natural gas for Azerbaijan and regional markets.
ACG’s NAG resources are estimated at approximately 4 trillion cubic feet of recoverable reserves, with potential upside reaching as much as 6 trillion cubic feet. Unlike associated gas, which is produced alongside crude oil, NAG comes from dedicated gas reservoirs and is extracted independently.
President Ilham Aliyev said additional gas production at ACG, along with the Absheron gas field and many other projects, will significantly boost Azerbaijan’s contribution to global energy security.
Azerbaijan produced 51.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas in 2025, up 1.2 bcm, or 2.4 percent, from the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Energy.
Nearly 28 bcm of total output came from the Shah Deniz field, 14.1 bcm from the ACG fields, 1.6 bcm from the Absheron field, and 7.9 bcm was produced by SOCAR.
Natural gas exports totaled 25.2 bcm during the year, with Europe receiving 12.8 bcm and Türkiye 9.6 bcm, including 5.6 bcm transported through the Southern Gas Corridor’s Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline. Deliveries to Georgia stood at 2.3 bcm, and 0.5 bcm was exported to Syria.
Production from ACG’s NAG reserves has commenced from reservoirs located beneath and above the field’s existing oil-producing formations. According to bp, drilling confirmed the presence of gas in the upper reservoir and encountered high-pressure gas in the lower formation.
Gas and condensate produced from the well will be transported to the Sangachal terminal through existing ACG offshore infrastructure, allowing the project to leverage established facilities and reduce development costs.
The launch of NAG follows the signing of an addendum to the ACG production-sharing agreement in September 2024, enabling the exploration, appraisal, and development of the field’s NAG resources. The amended agreement remains in force through 2049.
Courtesy: www.caspiannews.com