BP to begin Caspian seismic survey for ADUA project

BP has announced that a seismic survey programme for the Ashrafi–Dan Ulduzu–Aypara (ADUA) project in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea will be carried out between February and April next year, according to Report.

BP, which operates the ADUA contract area, said the work will involve a 2D high-resolution seismic survey designed to support future exploration drilling.

The survey is expected to last up to 20 days and will cover a limited area in the north-western part of the ADUA block, in water depths of between 20 and 40 metres.

The company said the primary objective of the survey is to collect detailed subsurface data to a depth of around 1,500 metres.

The data will be used to identify shallow geological hazards such as faults, shallow gas accumulations and other features that could pose risks to drilling operations and well integrity.

As part of the preparation process, BP said a draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the seismic survey programme has been produced and published on behalf of the project’s contractor parties.

The document outlines the planned survey activities, assesses potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, and sets out proposed mitigation and monitoring measures.

BP said the EIA process is intended to ensure that any adverse environmental or socio-economic effects associated with the survey are identified, minimised and, where possible, eliminated. Stakeholder consultations form a key part of the process, allowing public input to be considered in both project design and environmental planning.

The draft EIA and a non-technical summary have been made available in both Azerbaijani and English.

Since 26 December, 2025, copies and access links have been placed at multiple public locations in Baku, including libraries, academic institutions and environmental information centres.

BP said members of the public are invited to submit comments and feedback on the draft EIA by email, post or through designated public locations. The EIA disclosure period will run until 26 January, 2026.

The Ashrafi–Dan Ulduzu–Aypara project is one of several offshore exploration initiatives aimed at expanding Azerbaijan’s hydrocarbon potential in the Caspian Sea.

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