Azeri Central East (ACE) development project
More about the project
Next stage of development of giant ACG field in Caspian Sea;
The first major investment by ACG partnership under extended PSA;
New development approved in 25th year of landmark partnership
The ACE project is the next stage of development of the giant Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. It is a $6 billion development project which includes a new offshore platform and facilities designed to process up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day. The project is expected to produce up to 300 million barrels over its lifetime.
The project was sanctioned in April 2019. The sanction of ACE was the first major investment decision by the ACG partnership following the extension of the ACG Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) to 2049 was agreed in 2017. Around $42 billion has been invested in the development of the ACG area since the original PSA signed in 1994.
The ACE project is centred on a new 48-slot production, drilling and quarters platform located mid-way between the existing Central Azeri and East Azeri platforms in a water depth of approximately 140 metres. The project also includes new infield pipelines to transfer oil and gas from the ACE platform to the existing ACG Phase 2 oil and gas export pipelines for transportation to the onshore Sangachal terminal.
In addition, there is a water injection pipeline installed between the East Azeri and ACE platforms to supply injection water from the Central Azeri compression and water injection platform to the ACE facilities.
Construction activities for the project commenced in late 2019 and have taken place in-country utilizing local resources. At peak, over 8,500 people were involved in overall construction activities in Azerbaijan.
The ACE platform is technologically and digitally the most advanced bp-operated platform in the world. Its innovative engineering allows automation of labour-intensive processes, enabling safer and more efficient operations. The ACE platform is designed to use technology innovations and automated operation systems that are controlled remotely from an onshore control room at the Sangachal terminal. It is the first remotely operated offshore platform in the Caspian. The platform has a state-of-the-art fully automated drilling rig. The use of modern technology and new processes also helps to lower operational emissions.
On 7 August 2023, the topside unit sailed away from the Bayil fabrication yard, where it was built, to the ACG field.
In mid-April 2024, oil production commenced from the new Azeri Central East (ACE) platform - the seventh offshore platform installed on the giant ACG field in the Caspian Sea.
Initial production from ACE came from the first platform well at the end of last year. Currently production from ACE is around 19,000 barrels per day from two wells. It is expected that ACE production will increase through the remaining months of 2024 to around 24,000bpd as one more planned well is drilled, completed and brought online.
Initial production from ACE came from the first platform well at the end of last year. Currently production from ACE is around 19,000 barrels per day from two wells. It is expected that ACE production will increase through the remaining months of 2024 to around 24,000bpd as one more planned well is drilled, completed and brought online.
Total ACE production for the first three quarters of 2024 was on average about 6,500 barrels per day.
Related content
ACE topsides unit construction
ACE project - drilling modules jack up and skidding activities
ACE platform topsides unit sails away for offshore installation
