Gunashli oilfield

Gunashli (Azerbaijani: Günəşli) is an offshore oil field in the Caspian Sea, located Template:Convert east of Baku, Azerbaijan, Template:Convert southeast of Oil Rocks<ref name="Azerbaijan International"> Template:Cite journal </ref> and its deep water section is a part of the larger Azeri–Chirag–Guneshli (ACG) project.<ref name=BP>Template:Cite web</ref> The Azeri translation of Gunashli means "sunny". Gunashli is believed to have more than 100 million tonnes of oil reserves.<ref name="Azerbaijan International"/>

Western shallow water section

The portion of Gunashli field which is not in the scope of ACG project, lies in Template:Convert depth of water and developed by State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) while the deepwater section developed by BP within ACG project is at Template:Convert.<ref name="Azerbaijan International"/><ref name=BP/>

The field was explored in 1958–63.<ref name="Azerbaijan International"/> The first offshore platform was installed by 1976.<ref name="Azerbaijan International"/> Production in this section started in 1982.<ref name=jolley> Template:Cite book</ref> It consisted of 4 steel jackets for drilling of 10 wells. As per 1980 data, the platform produced 320 tonnes of oil per day.<ref name="Azerbaijan International"/>

As of 1995, Gunashli was producing Template:Convert of oil. Because of steadily falling rate of production (9%), SOCAR hired Kvaerner to provide project management to rehabilitate Gunashli.<ref name="Azerbaijan International"/> In March 2008, a high-flow-rate well No. 244 was put into operation through the platform No. 13. It produces 140 tons of oil and Template:Convert of natural gas per day. The well was drilled by SOCAR subsidiary Azeri Drilling Company Ltd. The well No. 247 was drilled by Bayil Limani Offshore Exploration Drilling Unit through platform No. 14. It produces 100 tonnes per day.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref>

Eastern deep water section

The deep water section of Gunashli (also called DWG) field has been included for development within the ACG project's Phase III. First oil from DWG was produced on 20 April 2008 from one of 10 pre-drilled wells. DWG now produces nearly Template:Convert of the total Template:Convert from ACG fields complex.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref> ACG's DWG complex is located in the eastern side of the Gunashli field and includes two bridge-linked platforms:

• a 48-slot drilling, utilities and quarters (DUQ) platform
• a process, gas compression, water injection and utilities (PCWU) platform

Oil produced at DWG is transported through a Template:Convert oil pipeline tie-ins and single Template:Convert gas pipeline tie-in into pre-installed pipeline junctions from Azeri field leading to Sangachal terminal.<ref name=BP/> The DWG has 9 operating wells. It has been producing 16,800 tonnes of oil and Template:Convert of natural gas per day.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref>

1986 fire

In Soviet times, on 12 July 1986 a fire broke out on an exploration platform in the Gunashli oilfield. Three oil workers and two rescuers died. While the incident was blamed on an engineer, widespread rumors claimed that faulty and outdated equipment caused the fire. After this incident, a minor protest against government neglect took place in front of the Government House. Protestors were arrested and described as hooligans by the Soviet press.<ref name=Azadliq061215>Template:Cite news</ref>

2015 fire

On 4 December 2015, a deadly fire broke out in the northern part of platform No. 10 at the western section of the oilfield.<ref name="cihan"/><ref name=trend061215b>Template:Cite news</ref> The fire started, according to SOCAR, when a high-pressure underwater gas pipeline was damaged in a heavy storm.<ref name="cihan">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=ap051215>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=afp061215>Template:Cite news</ref> As a result of the fire, the platform, which had been in service since 1984, partially collapsed.<ref name=reuters051215>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=ap061215>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=trend061215a>Template:Cite news</ref>

At the time of the accident, 63 workers were on the platform.<ref name=trend061215a/> According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, seven workers are confirmed to have been killed, 23 are missing, 33 were rescued; and nine were hospitalized.<ref name=trend101215b>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=trend051215b>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• Image showing Chirag within ACG fields