BP launches second phase of seismic surveys at Karabakh field

The British energy giant BP has begun the second phase of seismic surveys at the “Karabakh” oil field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, completing the initial phase ahead of schedule.

The company launched the first phase of seismic exploration at the Karabakh field in December 2025 using Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) technology to improve understanding of the reservoir, support well planning, and optimise field development strategies, Caliber.Az reports, citing lcoal media.

“Processing of the acquired data is currently ongoing. Subsequently, a high-resolution (HR) and ultra-high-resolution (UHR) seismic survey programme was launched in mid-March. The main objective of this survey is to identify geological risks that could affect well integrity, as well as subsurface hazards that may hinder the safe installation of the platform and other infrastructure. The HR/UHR seismic survey is expected to last up to 45 days,” a statement from BP-Azerbaijan said.

On June 3, 2025, during the Baku Energy Week, BP signed an agreement with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to acquire a 35% stake in the Karabakh field development project.

SOCAR holds the remaining 65%, and BP acts as the operator.

The Karabakh field is located 120 km east of Baku and 20–25 km from the Gunashli field, at a depth of 150–200 meters.

Preliminary estimates suggest geological oil reserves exceed 60 million tonnes, with 21 million tonnes considered recoverable, along with 13 billion cubic metres of gas.

According to Fitch Ratings, peak production at the offshore Karabakh field is projected to reach 7.5 million barrels per day.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov