Production from one of the biggest oilfields in the world is kept on hold following an industrial accident earlier in the month – and eight years of start-up delays.
A gas leak on October 9 halted output from the Kazakhstan field – for the second time since it launched in September this year.
“In order to ensure the continued compliance with the highest safety requirements, it is anticipated that the activities relevant to inspections and investigations will take some weeks,” the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) which develops Kashagan, said in a statement.
“The oil and gas production remains shut in until the results of the expert studies are available and restart of the facilities can be carried out safely.”
The delay meant the consortium had to scrap its commercial output estimate for the month of 75,000 barrels of oil per day.
The development of the hugely delayed field by NCOC was approved in 2000 and the cost about $50billion to complete.
By original estimates, the first production was expected in 2005.
