OREANDA-NEWS.  February 14, 2012. BP Azerbaijan, the main operator of oil and gas contracts in Azerbaijan, is ready to increase its investments in reduction of associated gas flaring within its projects in the country.

BP Azerbaijan’s offshore operations vice president Michael Thomas says that BP together with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is working over a new direction of such activity.

"We are working out a project of associated gas transportation to storages for its use if necessary. Enhanced capacity of SOCAR’s underground gas storages gives such an opportunity," Thomas said.

Within the framework of Chirag Oil Project (COP) BP plans factually to stop gas flaring under normal conditions and minimize it in emergencies.

It is planned gas flaring at the level of 200,000-300,000 cu m a day.