Gordon Birrell: Azerbaijan has become cornerstone of global energy security

Since the signing of the Contract of the Century in 1994, about 4.6 billion barrels of oil have been produced from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field for export.

Report informs that Gordon Birrell, BP's Executive Vice President for Production and Operations, said this during his speech at Baku Energy Week.

"More than 90% of BP's team in Azerbaijan are Azerbaijani citizens," he said, adding that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Baku's skyline has risen and become brighter.

According to Birrell, Azerbaijan has become a cornerstone of global energy security.

"This gives me reason to speak before you about this project.

The start of the first free natural gas production from the ACG block of fields is truly a major event. ACG is one of the world's largest and most complex fields. Non-associated gas exists in layers above and below the oil.

There is also good news: we have discovered a thin oil rim between gas and water at the bottom of deeper reservoirs. All this requires great technical expertise. The integration of new gas systems with existing oil infrastructure is possible through complex technologies such as horizontal drilling and advanced geosteering. This process must be carried out in a completely safe, efficient and reliable manner.

All this must be carried out safely, efficiently and reliably," he said.