Oil production at the Kashagan field to be resumed in several weeks

Oil production at the Kashagan field in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea will be resumed in several weeks, the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC)’s press centre reported on Thursday.

It was expected that commercial volumes of the oil production in the amount of 75 thousand barrels per day would be reached at the Kashagan field by the beginning of October, 2013. But for the first time the oil production at the deposit, started on September 11, was suspended on September 25 because of failures in a gas pipeline. Wells were opened after repairs on October 6th and the work was resumed. The Kazakh Minister of Oil and Gas Uzakbai Karabalin reported to journalists that the field reached the commercial volumes of the production on October 8th. But on October 9th, during the scheduled inspection of the gas pipeline, show of gas seepage was found in two km from the plant. The oil production at the plant was suspended again.