UK-headquartered energy giant BP has chosen Emerson to supply automation and control systems for an unmanned offshore platform. This platform will play a pivotal role in the next development phase of the Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea, which is noted as one of the largest gas-condensate fields globally and BP’s most significant gas discovery.
The Shah Deniz consortium comprises several major players, including BP (operating with a 29.99% stake), Lukoil (19.99%), TPAO (19.00%), Southern Gas Corridor Upstream/SGC (16.02%), NICO (10.00%), and MVM (5.00%). Recently, the consortium awarded Emerson an automation contract specifically for the Shah Deniz Compression (SDC) project. This strategic partnership underscores the importance of advanced automation technologies in modern offshore operations.
The contract encompasses the provision of integrated control and safety systems necessary for the remote operations of the SDC platform. This includes essential functions such as process control, safety shutdown mechanisms, fire and gas detection, and power management systems. By ensuring real-time visibility and remote control of critical platform operations, this technology is designed to enhance safety, reliability, and operational efficiency, ultimately aiming to reduce operating costs while supporting long-term performance.
BP has hailed the awarding of this contract as a significant milestone in the ongoing delivery of the SDC project. The automation and control systems are deemed crucial for the safe and efficient operation of the unmanned platform throughout its lifecycle. Ilgar Mammadov, BP’s Project General Manager, stated, “This milestone comes as the overall project continues to make strong progress, with around 30% completion achieved to date and approximately 2,700 people currently mobilized.”
In his remarks, Mammadov noted that engineering and fabrication activities are progressing as planned across multiple fronts, leveraging Azerbaijan’s resources, expertise, and industrial capabilities. This meticulous attention to local resources not only augments project efficiency but also fosters regional economic growth.
The ambitious $2.9 billion Shah Deniz Compression project is poised to be transformative, maximizing recovery efforts from the Shah Deniz field. This initiative is expected to unlock approximately 50 billion cubic meters of additional gas reserves and around 25 million barrels of condensate for production and export.
As part of this initiative, the SDC project will see the installation of a new electrically powered unmanned compression platform, or normally unattended installation (eNUI), located in 85 meters of water depth, roughly 3 kilometers from the existing Shah Deniz Bravo (SDB) platform. Equipped with four 11-MW compressors, the SDC platform is designed to facilitate gas compression from both the Shah Deniz Alpha (SDA) and SDB platforms.
This compression is crucial as it prepares the gas for transport to the Sangachal terminal onshore. Furthermore, the project will include several associated facilities installed offshore within the Shah Deniz contract area and various brownfield enhancements at the SDA, SDB, and Sangachal terminal. Currently, construction activities are in full swing, with completion anticipated by 2029 for the SDA platform and 2030 for the SDB platform.
BP’s commitment to expanding its portfolio in the Caspian Sea is further illustrated by the recent start of non-associated gas production from the Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli (ACG) field development. This strategic move not only strengthens BP’s position in the region but also enhances the overall energy landscape of Azerbaijan.