Kazakhstan’s Kashagan output hits 400,000 b/d in early Sep: Eni

Kazakhstan’s giant Kashagan field hit a record-high crude output level of 400,000 b/d in early September, with liquids output averaging 422,000 b/d in the third quarter, Italy’s Eni said Thursday, fueling expectations of an export surge to come.

In emailed comments, a spokeswoman for the Italian company said Kashagan crude production had reached 400,260 b/d on September 4.

The increase was achieved through the conversion of an additional well to injection operations, designed to support output levels, following a major maintenance shutdown in the second quarter, she said.

Overall production at Kashagan, including crude, gas and natural gas liquids, had averaged 503,000 b/d of oil equivalent in the third quarter, she said.

A provisional loading program suggested CPC crude exports from Novorossiisk, mainly comprised of Kazakh crude, are set to reach a record-high 1.5 million b/d in December, after a recent reduction resulting from maintenance at various Kazakh fields.

Kazakhstan is a party to production cuts agreed between OPEC, Russia and other producers, but its largest fields and the CPC blend are not thought in practice to be affected by the commitment, with mature fields bearing the brunt of any planned cuts.

Kazakhstan’s production growth has, however, stalled somewhat due to maintenance at the two other biggest sources of CPC crude, Tengiz and Karachaganak.

Kazakh oil output totaled 1.84 million b/d in September, down from 1.89 million b/d in August, according to International Energy Agency data.
Source: Platts