Accra:East Azeri Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the initial oil production from the East Azeri platform, a significant achievement in the development of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field, as reported by bp to AZERTAC.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, production from East Azeri commenced on October 21, 2006, completing the second phase of the ACG full field development. The platform began by extracting oil from one of its eight pre-drilled wells, which then reached the Sangachal terminal on November 10, 2006, transported by a new subsea pipeline.
In the past two decades, East Azeri has been crucial to ACG’s overall production success, yielding over 645 million barrels (87 million tonnes) of oil to date. This output contributes to the total 4.7 billion barrels produced by ACG since it became operational in November 1997.
As of the end of the third quarter of 2026, the platform continues to function safely and efficiently, with an average daily output of 46,000 barrels. The East Azeri infrastructure includes a 48-slot production, drilling, and quarters platform, linked by a 30-inch subsea oil pipeline to the onshore Sangachal terminal, along with other pipelines and systems within the field.
Currently, the platform employs approximately 170 individuals offshore, predominantly Azerbaijani nationals, including both installation managers. Since its inception, a total of 39 wells and various sidetracks have been drilled, with 36 wells currently active. This includes 27 production wells, eight water injectors, and one cuttings reinjection well.
East Azeri continues to exemplify how innovation and technology can maximize extraction from the mature ACG field. Recently, the platform successfully delivered the D18Z well, achieving over 2,000 meters of open hole, with more than 1,500 meters of sand within the target reservoir. This well boasts the longest reservoir contact of any ACG well drilled thus far, showcasing the role of advanced seismic imaging, drilling, and completion technologies in unlocking further value from the field.
The East Azeri platform remains a world-class asset, poised to significantly contribute to the enduring success of the ACG field and Azerbaijan’s oil industry for many years ahead.