BP: Drilling on SWAP area slow due to geological reasons

The depth of the first exploration well in Shallow Water Absheron Peninsula (SWAP) area, operated by BP, is 2,300 meters, said BP Vice President for the Caspian region, Communications and Advocacy, Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, Report informs.

“Drilling is proceeding rather slowly, as it passes through clay formations with difficulty. Work continues, although it is unlikely that drilling of this well will be completed by the end of this year due to the complex geology,” he noted.

He also reminded that three wells are planned to be drilled in the shallow waters around the Absheron Peninsula. Work on the second and third wells is scheduled to begin next year, he added.

Aslanbayli also noted that the company has high hopes for the structures included in the SWAP block.

BP said earlier that it expects to find oil in this area, and the shallow water depths and formation will allow, if oil reserves are discovered, to quickly start developing them.

Aslanbayli also noted that the company has abandoned plans to drill onshore in Gobustan.

In 2018, the company acquired a 61% share in the South West Gobustan project. However, having studied the available materials, the company abandoned both the drilling plans and the project as a whole.