Combining Kazakh Oil with Azeri Light Does Not Impact Quality: BP Study
The Quality of Azeri Light Blend in BTC Pipeline Not Impacted by Mixing with Kazakh Oil
A spokesperson for BP-Azerbaijan, Tamam Bayatly, has confirmed that the mixing of Kazakh oil with Azeri Light does not affect the quality of the blend transported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. According to a report, Bayatly stated that strict requirements have been in place since the commissioning of the pipeline to ensure that only oil meeting specified criteria can be transported. The price of the blend is determined based on Azeri Light’s characteristics.
In addition to oil from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block, the BTC pipeline also carries condensate from the Shah Deniz field, oil from other Azerbaijani fields, as well as oil from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Bayatly emphasized that third-party crude is only accepted in volumes that do not compromise the quality of Azeri Light.
However, she mentioned that if shipments of Kazakh oil increase significantly in the future, alternative routes may need to be considered. Resolving this issue would require collaboration between the Kazakh side, the Azerbaijani government, and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).
Overall, the assurance from BP-Azerbaijan’s spokesperson reaffirms the commitment to maintaining the quality and integrity of the Azeri Light blend transported through the BTC pipeline. This collaboration underscores the importance of stringent standards and cooperation in the oil transportation industry.
