Kashagan is located close to the Atyrau city at the North of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhistan. The destiny of unknown Kashagan which is out of sight of the world under harsh climate conditions has dramatically changed in 2000 with the oil explored in the region. Statements attracted the attention of the whole world; the largest oil area within the last 20 years was explored after the Prudhoe Bay which is located on the north slopes of Alaska and which was explored in 1968. According to the first estimates, the oil reserve in the area was 40 billion barrels or 5.5 billion tons.
Oil worked a miracle one more time, and the destiny of a forgotten point in the world started to shine. Kashagan which takes its name from a poem of Aktau who is a 19th century poet met with the largest oil giants in the world, and the oil world got acquainted with Kashagan. The largest oil exploration process of today was started with a consortium which was established in 2001. The Consortium consisted of the companies of Eni (%18,52), Exxon Mobil (%18,52), Shell (%18,52), Total (%18,52), ConocoPhillips (%9,26), Inpex (%8,33), KazMunayGas (%8,33). The performance of the project was undertaken by Petrofac International Limited, Sharjah. The end user was AGIP-KCO partnership.
The surface of the Kashagan oil area is 75 x 45 km. Oil fields formed in shallow sea water 350 million years ago through natural ways. According to the recent studies made, it is estimated that the oil reserve in the area is 38 billion barrels 13 billions of which are recoverable.
Harsh Conditions
The Kashagan Project have exceptionally complex features which require the coordination of open sea and shore activities including very different and comprehensive Works such as inspection, building, engaging, drilling, logistics, development and production. There are also the obstacles caused by the harsh natural conditions of Kashagan besides these challenges.
The activities in the sea are performed under excessive continental air conditions. Winters are so harsh. Air temperature decreases up to -40ºC. In summers, temperature increases up to +40ºC.
The low salt content of the North Caspian Sea causes icing to be rapid and the sea to freeze. Sea water freezes for 4-5 months from november to march.
In the remainder of the year, waves up to 1 metre form due to wind and storms. Ice, shallow sea and the waves in the water were the indicators of the challenging struggle against the nature in Kashagan even in the beginning of the project.
Technological Challenges
The Kashagan Project is a unique complement of technical challenges and environmental struggle. These characteristics of the Project and the scopes, sizes, variability of the Works make the Project one of the biggest actions of the oil industry in the world.
All the AGIP KCO sea plants should be protected against harsh winter conditions and especially the movements of ice masses and the natural conditions should not affect the production. It is proposed that the deepness of the pits to be drilled under these conditions is 5000 metre and high pit pressure is 800 bar. There is a high H2S (Hydrogene Sulphur) content between the rates of 16-20%. This requires processing for the by-products such as sulphur and using acid gas re-injection in the pits.
The Field Action Project which is on the Agenda
The Project was planned as 9 phases. The 1st and 2nd phases were started in 2001. There is a 3-piece structure in the field action Project. Alarko Carrier was chosen fort he air conditioner devices in this Project. The order included 2 30 RW cooler, 5 39HQ air conditioner santral, 2 09GE dry cooler, 2 PLC compatible control panels (1 exp type) and other ancillary equipments such as pump, recupurator, channel heaters and steam humidifiers.
1. and 2nd phases were successfully completed. Alarko Carrier fulfilled its commitments in due time and in accordance with the requested requirements. 3rd phase activities were started following the 1st and 2nd phases. The employer preferred Alarko Carrier again and gave an order for this phase thanks to the customer satisfaction. It is expected that the works related to the other 6 phases in the Project will be completed within the upcoming two years.
