Beating Caspian Geohazards, Block 1 Development, Turkmenistan

Abstract

Abstract The geohazard assessment for Block 1 identified multiple geohazards in the field development area. The most significant of these hazards are active faulting, mud volcanoes, shallow gas and earthquakes. Less dramatic but equally important features identified were seabed ridges and channels at or just below seabed. In many cases, such hazards would seriously jeopardise a successful and safe development of a hydrocarbon field. However, for the Block 1 development, these hazards were identified in a timely manner such that their accompanying risks could be incorporated in the field layout design without major cost implications. Initial field layout was such that mud volcanoes and shallow gas occurrences were avoided, and well planning incorporated the location of the active faults. In the Block 1 field development, an early understanding of the geological setting combined with good interaction between the structural engineers, drilling engineers and geohazard specialists resulted in a cost-effective field design minimising the uncertainty and financial as well as environmental risks. This paper illustrates that geohazards need not always have a major impact on hydrocarbon field development. It shows that, with the right approach and timely recognition, successful hydrocarbon development is possible in one of the world's most geohazard prone and complex areas.