Azeri oil exports down 3.5 pct in 2014, led by falls at BP

Falling output at the main Azeri, Chirag and Guneshli (ACG)oilfields has raised concerns in Baku.

BP and its partner, Azeri state energy firm SOCAR, have tried to calm those fears, saying production has stabilised. Total oil output grew in 2013 for the first time since 2011.

But the decline resumed last year. Output from ACG oilfields fell to 24.2 million tonnes, or an average 655,700 barrels per day (bpd) in January-September 2014 from 663,200 bpd in the same period of 2013 and 656,000 bpd in the first half of 2014, BP-Azerbaijan said in November.

BP started maintenance at the Central Azeri and West Azeri platforms on Oct. 31, halting operations for a month, in a move that could further reduce oil output in the country. Production resumed on Nov. 27.

Azerbaijan's oil and condensate output fell 2.8 percent to 41.9 million tonnes last year from 43.1 million tonnes in 2013.

Exports of oil via Russia through the Baku-Novorossiisk pipeline amounted to 1.02 million tonnes in 2014, down from 1.75 million tonnes.

Exports through the Baku-Supsa pipeline via Georgia rose to 4.232 million tonnes from 4.028 million, while exports through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan via Georgia and Turkey were 26.8 million tonnes, down from 27.5 million tonnes.

Oil exports shipped by rail via Georgia declined to 918,508 tonnes from 991,992.