bp and its partners have marked the 20^th anniversary since first oil flowed from the East Azeri platform in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

The facility is part of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) Field development complex. 

Startup on Oct. 21, 2006, completed Phase 2 of the ACG full field development, with oil from the first of eight pre-drilled wells sent via a new subsea pipeline to the shore, reaching the Sangachal terminal on November 10.

East Azeri has since produced more than 645 MMbbl of oil, out of the total ACG production to date of 4.7 Bbbl since operations started in November 1997.

At the end of September, production from East Azeri was averaging 46,000 bbl/d.

The facilities comprise a 48-slot production, drilling and quarters platform, and a 30-inch subsea oil pipeline tie-in to the Sangachal terminal along with other in-field pipelines and systems.

Since startup, 39 wells and multiple sidetracks have been drilled from the platform, with 36 wells currently active, including 27 producers, eight water injectors and one cuttings re-injector well. 

Recently, the platform-drilled D18Z well was completed with more than 2,000 m of open hole, including more than 1,500 m of sand within the target reservoir.

It delivered the most extensive reservoir contact of any ACG well drilled to date, bp said, showcasing how modern seismic imaging, drilling and completion technologies are helping deliver further value from the field.