For the second phase of development of the Absheron gas field located in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, one of the key innovations will be the introduction of the world’s first automated underwater system for launching cleaning devices (PIGs) to remove possible deposits in pipelines.
This was announced by Emmanuel de Guillebon, head of TotalEnergies Azerbaijan, during the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum.
“The length of the subsea pipeline and the nature of the transported flow — a gas and condensate mixture — creates risks of wax deposits and hydrate formation,” Guillebon stated. “In the early stage of operations, it will likely be necessary to clean the pipeline every month. Doing this manually with the use of vessels requires significant resources.”
According to him, the new system will automate the process:
“We are developing an underwater device capable of loading several cleaners at once. These will be released automatically each month, eliminating the need for costly marine operations. This will significantly reduce both operational costs and downtime.”
Guillebon emphasized that although the technology has been tested in Brazil under other projects, its use in Absheron will mark the first industrial application of this kind in the world:
“We have worked on this concept with suppliers for many years. Today, we are ready to implement it here in Azerbaijan as part of the Absheron project, and aim to make it a benchmark for the entire industry.”
Background:
The Absheron field lies about 100 km southeast of Baku in the Caspian Sea and is operated by JOCAP – Absheron Petroleum, a joint operating company.
First gas was extracted from the field in July 2023.
In August 2023, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed an agreement to acquire a 30% stake in the project from SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) and TotalEnergies. Both SOCAR and TotalEnergies now each hold 35% stakes.
Indian authorities have ordered a magisterial inquiry and promised financial support after a fire tore through the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Ar...
Kremenchuk, an industrial centre on the Dnipro River, was struck again as Russian forces targeted facilities across the city during the night....
More than 60 Indigenous artifacts held in the Vatican for 100 years, including a rare Inuit kayak, arrived in Montreal, where First Nation, Métis and...
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defends follow-up strike on suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, denies authorizing the killing of all onboard, an...
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday that preparations are under way for a substantial business mission to Moscow, describing the vi...
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defends follow-up strike on suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, denies authorizing the killing of all onboard, and comments on protocols for military operations.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
‘We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that the peace plan for Gaza is put into action as soon as possible and that this humanitarian tragedy comes to an end,’ Turkish top diplomat Fidan tells Anadolu
A giant Christmas tree adorned with red and gold baubles stands in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for the first time since 2022.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has finalized the group stage for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, setting the schedule and matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team event.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for its support of the claims by United Arab Emirates on three Iranian islands.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy that highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its ties with the European Union.
Kremenchuk, an industrial centre on the Dnipro River, was struck again as Russian forces targeted facilities across the city during the night.
A giant Christmas tree adorned with red and gold baubles stands in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for the first time since 2022.
On 5 December 2025, residents of Hama filled the streets, balconies, rooftops, main squares, waving flags and chanting slogans, celebrating the first anniversary of the departure of forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad.
President of the United States of America Donald Trump has sent a letter of gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment