Since the signing of the “Contract of the Century” in 1994, approximately 4.6 billion barrels of oil have been produced for export from the Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli (ACG) oil field, according to Gordon Birrell, BP’s Executive Vice President for Production and Operations.
Speaking at Baku Energy Week, Birrell noted that the vast majority of BP’s workforce in Azerbaijan consists of local specialists.
“More than 90% of BP’s team in Azerbaijan are Azerbaijani nationals,” he said.
He also highlighted Azerbaijan’s development under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, stating that Baku’s “skyline looks brighter than ever.”
According to Birrell, Azerbaijan has become one of the key contributors to global energy security:
“Azerbaijan has become a cornerstone of global energy security.”
He described the start of first standalone gas production at the ACG field as a significant milestone. Birrell emphasized that ACG remains one of the world’s largest and most complex oil fields, containing both associated and non-associated gas resources in upper and lower reservoirs.
He also pointed out the discovery of a thin oil layer between gas and water zones in deeper formations, which requires highly advanced technical capabilities.
Birrell added that integrating new gas systems into existing infrastructure is made possible through modern technologies such as horizontal drilling and advanced geosteering:
“These processes must be carried out safely, efficiently, and reliably.”
