Baku: BP, the operator of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil field development, is pleased to announce that tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of first oil from the West Azeri platform-a key milestone in the development of the giant ACG field, bp told APA-Economics.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, production from West Azeri began on 30 December 2005, signaling the start-up of Phase 2 of the ACG full field development. Oil initially flowed from the first of three pre-drilled production wells and, via the subsea pipeline, reached the Sangachal terminal on 4 January 2006. Since then, West Azeri has been a major contributor to ACG's success, delivering over 1 billion barrels (142 million tonnes) of oil, ranking second among all ACG platforms after Central Azeri. The platform significantly contributes to the total 4.5 billion barrels of ACG production since the field's inception in November 1997.

Currently, the platform continues to operate safely with an average daily production of 76,000 barrels per day as of the end of the third quarter of 2025. The West Azeri facilities include a 48-slot production, drilling and quarters platform, and a 30-inch subsea oil pipeline to the Sangachal terminal.

Around 170 people work on the platform, the majority of whom are Azerbaijani nationals, including both installation managers. Since start-up, more than 40 wells and multiple sidetracks have been drilled on West Azeri. Currently, 32 wells are active, with 24 producers and eight water injectors.

Emin Ibrahimov, West Azeri operations installation manager, stated, "We, as the West Azeri family, are proud to operate one of ACG's top-performing assets. Looking back, one of our earliest wells-C-06-came online in 2005 with an initial production rate of 35,000 barrels per day and was one of the worldwide top producers. To date, it has delivered a total of 80 million barrels-an outstanding achievement for any oil well. I would like to congratulate the entire West Azeri team on this historic anniversary and reaffirm that West Azeri remains a world-class asset, continuing to make significant contributions to the success of the ACG field and Azerbaijan's oil industry for decades to come."