OREANDA-NEWS.  February 14, 2012. BP Azerbaijan, the key operator of oil and gas contracts in Azerbaijan, is ready to synchronize associated gas operations with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).

When discussing today issues of implementation of World Bank’s program Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) BP Azerbaijan’s manager for gas issues Namig Abbasov has said that in order to reduce associated gas flaring, BP Azerbaijan and SOCAR are working to coordinate their actions.

"It is principal for us to synchronize our repair work to prevent a situation when we produce gas and SOCAR cannot accept it and vice versa – the SOCAR needs gas and we conduct repairs. This situation has changed much for the better. It is also necessary to take into account seasonal factors – it is better to repair in summer when gas demand falls. In connection with appearance of SOCAR’s own gas export commitments, we are also working on the issue of synchronizing our actions with the schedule of SOCAR’s export supplies. At that, it is already being formed an international system of regulation, to which Gazprom is involved as a buyer of gas from SOCAR,” Abbasov said.

In 2011, BP Azerbaijan produced 11 bn cu m of gas at block Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli,  which in accord with the contract should be transferred to SOCAR after meeting technology needs (gas lift).