NCOC to renovate its forebay at Kashagan, assures no harm to Caspian seals

At Kashagan, the largest offshore oil-and-gas field in the Caspian Sea, the forebay will be renovated, as reported by North Caspian Operation Company (NCOC).

«The project aims at completely isolating the forebay from the sea and utilizing the reservoir as a closed water supply system storage. The forebay is designed for taking and storing the seawater reserve for auxiliary needs, fire extinguishing, a desalination plant and a technical water heater block,» the operator explained in response to Kursiv.media’s inquiry.

NCOC noted that the reservoir is filled with process rainwater from the uncontaminated modules 9 and 10, as well as with process water that returns from the desalination plant, testing the fire pump installation and the electric water heater unit to prevent freezing of both water and equipment.

Fallin water levels in the Caspian Sea forced two intake canals to be «permanently closed,» while the constant water level in the forebay is maintained by pumping seawater. 

To improve the forebay’s isolation, the apertures between the latches were welded with carbon plates. Following this, between April and August, tests were conducted to assess the forebay’s leak resistance. The company stated that the integrity and isolation from the sea area were successfully confirmed.

The forebay is located on the D island, 80 kilometers south of Atyrau, where hydrocarbons are extracted. This is why NCOC considers the body of the artificial island surrounding the reservoir as an additional barrier between the forebay and the sea.

The operating company plans to hermetically seal the walls of the intake canals bordering the forebay and shutter locks. The walls will be insulated with bentonite mats and then covered with sand. The renovation works, including the preparatory phase, are expected to take two months, from April to June 2025. The project’s cost has not yet been disclosed.

NCOC highlighted that over the years, between 6 and 32 species of birds have been observed around the water zone at the deposit. Additionally, the company’s representatives mentioned that the seasonal population of endangered seals near the field has fluctuated for years, and the animal has been avoiding the Kashagan area all year round.

The mass deaths of Caspian seals are a recurring issue in the North Caspian Sea. Last October, dozens of carcasses were washed ashore, and by late October this year, over 300 dead seals were reported to be found.