OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2014. Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) celebrates a decade of stable export of liquid hydrocarbons to the Karachaganak-Atyrau (KATS) and further on to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline systems from the beginning of operation of this export route in May 2004.

Commenting on this milestone, Damiano Ratti, KPO General Director, said: “Over the last decade, we have achieved impressive operational performance through our coordinated efforts between KPO, KATS, CPC, our trading affiliates and the Authorities.

“We are especially proud that the KATS team have worked this entire decade without a single lost time incident (LTI).”

“As one of the largest operators in Kazakhstan's oil and gas industry, KPO utilises leading production, hydrocarbon processing and transportation technologies which enhance hydrocarbon recovery and harness significant value for the Republic of Kazakhstan”, said Damiano Ratti.

“The KATS-CPC pipeline system plays a leading role in transportation of liquid hydrocarbons from the Karachaganak field to world markets.  KPO is the second largest CPC shipper in Kazakhstan.  Over the past decade, sales by KPO via the CPC system has grown considerably - from 3.3 million tonnes in 2004 to more than 8.4 million tonnes in 2013.  Overall, during 2004-2014 KPO has transported more than 74.2 million tonnes of liquids through this important route”, said Damiano Ratti.

As known, processed oil from the Karachaganak Processing Complex is injected into CPC pipeline system in Atyrau and moved across Russia in one common stream with oil from other fields to the CPC shore facilities on the Black Sea for further loading.  At the point of loading, the blend is comprised of various crudes including KPO's oil.  It is distinctly recognised in the market as CPC Blend and is quoted worldwide at international prices.

The KATS-CPC pipeline system linking the fields in Western Kazakhstan with the CPC terminal in Novorossiysk has a length of 1511 km.