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bp Kicks Off Seismic Survey in Azerbaijan's Karabagh Field
23 Dec
Summary
- bp has commenced a seismic survey on Azerbaijan's Karabagh field.
- Two surveys, OBN and HR/UHR, will enhance reservoir understanding and aid planning.
- The field holds estimated geological reserves exceeding 60 million tons of oil.
bp has commenced the High Density Ocean Bottom Node (HDOBN) 3D seismic survey on Azerbaijan's Karabagh field, signaling the initial phase of the field's development. This program includes two distinct surveys: an Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) seismic survey, which began this week and is projected to last up to 3.5 months, and a High-Resolution (HR) / Ultra-High Resolution (UHR) seismic survey scheduled for March-April 2026, anticipated to conclude within 45 days.
The OBN survey is designed to deepen the understanding of the reservoir, assist in meticulous well planning, and refine the overall field development strategies. Complementing this, the HR/UHR seismic survey aims to pinpoint potential geological hazards that could compromise well integrity and identify subsurface risks impacting the safe installation of critical infrastructure, such as platforms.
This initiative progresses with strong regulatory backing, as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) received approval from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan. The Karabagh field, situated 120 km east of Baku in waters between 150-200 meters deep, holds estimated geological reserves exceeding 60 million tons of oil. bp became the operator in May 2025, holding a 35% interest, with SOCAR affiliate retaining 65%.
