OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2009. In August, 2009, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) reduced total oil production by 1.5% as compared to July, 2009, with increase  of its own  production by 0.2% (by the SOCAR oil and gas divisions). In January to August,  2009,  total oil production (taking into account gas condensate)  made 65.2% from level of production for all 2008 (9.3 million tons).

SOCAR reports that in August 789,720 tons of oil were extracted against 789,720 in July, 774,030 tons in June, 796,890 tons in May, 774,110 tons in April, 763,450 tons in March, 686,740 tons in February 2009, 746,310 tons in January 2009 and 747,770 in December 2008.

At the same time, the SOCAR NGDUs produced 621,310 tons versus  620,160 tons in July, 603,300 tons in June, 619,880 tons, 598,830 tons, 619,010 tons, 558,770 tons, 619,170 tons and 626,480 tons respectively, and the SOCAR share in production of joint ventures (JVs) and operating companies (OCs) made 156,910 tons versus 169,560 tons, 170,730 tons, 177,010 tons, 175,280 tons, 144,440 tons, 127,970 tons, 127,140 tons and 121,290 tons respectively.

In January to August, overall oil production totaled 6.09 million tons, SOCAR own oil production 4.86 million tons, and the share in JVs and OCs – 1.2 million tons.

The 2009 oil production target for SOCAR makes 8.65 million tons. For 2008 overall oil production totaled 9.337 million (target: 8.7 million tons), including 7.413 million tons of production by NGDUs (target: 7.43 million tons) and 1.923 million tons by JVs and OCs (target: 1.27 million tons).

In August, 2009, SOCAR delivered 486,010 tons for refining versus 490,960 tons in July, 518,990 tons in June, 496,500 tons in May, 497,540 tons in April, 484,800 tons in March, 432,440 tons in February 2009, 575,380 tons of oil in January 2009 and 614,120 tons in December 2008. In  January to August, 2009, delivery for refining totaled 3.98 million tons versus 7.35 million tons over 2008.

In August, 2009, oil pumping for export reached 327,300 tons as compared to 298,090 tons in July, 317,230 tons in June, 312,250 tons in May, 353,850 tons in April, 248,380 tons in March, 226,380 tons in February 2009, 148,620 tons in January 2009 and 150,730 tons in December 2008. In January to August, pumping totaled 2.2 million tons versus 2.28 million over 2008.

In January to August, 2009, oil was not sold as well as in July to November, 2008.

In 2008, oil was sold by the NGDUs only in March (100 tons) versus 500 tons in January to July, 2007.