NCOC confirms the need for a complete replacement of pipelines at Kashagan.

The consortium of North Caspian Operating Co (NCOC), the operator of the giant Kashagan oil field in the Kazakh part of the Caspian Sea, confirmed the need for the complete replacement of the oil and gas pipeline at the field, and also stated that the resumption of production at the field is not expected in 2014.

The production at Kashagan was stopped in September 2013, two weeks after the start, due to a gas leak. In October 2013 almost immediately after the resumption of production another leak was discovered. The Financial Times referring to Erbolat Dosayev, the Minister of Economy and Budget Planning of Kazakhstan, reported that the oil production at Kashagan could begin in late 2015 or in 2016. According to FT sources, pipelines require replacement with a total length of about 200 kilometers.