P, the operator of the project of developing the block of oil and gas fields Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG), has suspended the operation of Western Azeri platform to conduct the maintenance work, BP told Trend May 21.

According to the plan, oil production from the platform has been suspended for about 22 days.

Earlier, BP said that such work is planned to be held as part of the plan.

“The program planning started in early 2014,” the company said. “This work was included in the annual work program and budget. The suspension has been also indicated in the annual production forecast.”

It was also stressed that the production at the Central Azeri, Eastern Azeri, Chirag fields, deep-water part of Guneshli, West Chirag and Shah Deniz, the export via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the South Caucasus pipeline, the Baku-Supsa pipeline will continue as usual. The Sangachal terminal will continue working. The loading at the port of Ceyhan will continue in accordance with the schedule.

BP and its partners produced 31.5 million metric tons of oil (233 million barrels) at Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block of oil and gas fields in 2014, compared to 32.2 million metric tons (239 million barrels) in 2013.

The contract for development of ACG field was signed in 1994.

The shareholders of the project are: BP (operator in the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli) – 35.78 percent, Chevron – 11.27 percent, Inpex – 10.96 percent, AzACG – 11.65 percent, Statoil – 8.56 percent, Exxon – 8 percent, TPAO – 6.75 percent, Itocu – 4.3 percent and ONGC – 2.72 percent.