"Gaz de France Suez" intends to buy gas in Azerbaijan

Gaz de France Suez is considering an opportunity of buying Azerbaijani gas, in particular, within the second stage of development of offshore gas-condensate Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, deputy head of the board and director general Jean-Francois Cirelli said at a meeting with Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy Natiq Abbasov.

Cirelli is also the president of the European Union of the Natural Gas Industry (Eurogas). It has almost 50 members of main gas industry facilities and the associations of energy sector.

Cirelli said that "Gaz de France Suez" provides the European market with 30 percent of gas. It is about 100 billion cubic meters. The company gets about 20% of gas from Russia, 40% from Norway, and the remaining 405 - from Holland, Egypt and Algeria.

The company currently participates in the exploration for the development of the Azerbaijani perspective structure "Absheron" on the Caspian Sea. Exploratory wells valued at $200 million will be drilled soon.

Participants of the project "Absheron" are SOCAR - 40%, French companies Total - 40% and "Gaz De France Suez" - 20%.

According to the forecasts, it is planned to drill about 5,000 meters by late 2010, and by January-February to reach the reservoir. Drilling will be carried out at depths of 470-480 meters. The depth of wells will be 7,100-7,200 meters. "Absheron" structure is characterized by high pressure, project manager said.

According to SOCAR geologists, stocks of the structure "Absheron" can hit 300 billion cubic meters of gas and 45 million tons of condensate.


/Trend/