The potential and the current state of the oil-gas infrastructure is crucial and playing an increasingly important role in the economic growth. For this very reason, the sphere of oil and gas transportation has been continuously modernized and renewed. The major objectives for the Department are the efficient management of natural gas volumes and undertaking of respective technical, technological, metrological and commercial operations in line with the appropriate standards of transporting gas to the energy corridors for its sale on domestic and external markets via the gas transmission system.
Export flows
To ensure safe and stable operation of the existing gas transmission system, the Gas Export Department keeps on renovating main gas pipelines (MGP), outdated technological equipment and gas measuring stations (GMS), maintains automatic control over work processes, and most importantly takes measures to reduce gas losses during transportation, replaces gas distribution stations (GDS) with modular ones and linear valves with new valves as well as implements works to clean the inner surface of pipelines, etc.
The Gas Export Department under SOCAR is servicing gas mains and branch pipelines with a total length of 3,400 kilometers, 203 GDS, 16 measuring units between different sites and 5 compressor stations (CS).
In 2014 the Gas Export Department received 14,706.0 million cubic meters of natural gas. For the period under review the Department carried out distribution of 14,633.3 million cubic meters of gas. Of this, 1,817.3 million cubic meters of gas were exported (Iran, Georgia, and Russia), 5,552.0 million cubic meters were supplied to Azerigaz PU, 5,285.8 million cubic meters were supplied to Azerenerji OJSC, 1,906.5 million cubic metres were injected into the underground gas storage facilities, and 71.7 million cubic metres were supplied to other subjects.
Each year, the Gas Export Department conducts extensive work to ensure safe, stable and uninterruptible operation of the gas pipeline system as well as gas intake, transportation and distribution, and to boost development of the gas infrastructure. Along with the stable and safe operation of the main gas pipelines, these works are aimed at reducing gas losses.
In view of the gas transportation from the Shah Deniz-2 project to Turkey and European markets, marketing studies have been conducted to determine the technical and economic feasibility of the pipeline route as well as an optimum option for transportation and transit via Turkey and the employees of the Gas Export Department were also involved in these investigations. The representatives of the Gas Export Department also took an active part in the process of making a final investment decision on the Shah Deniz Stage 2.
Modernisation
and reconstruction
SOCAR Gas Export Department carries out large-scale operations for modernization and reconstruction of the sections at main gas pipelines to provide the stable and safe supply of natural gas to the population and other consumers within the country, as well as to meet the growing demand for gas in the residential sector.
When implemented, these works actually create the widest opportunities to renovate the gas transmission system and fulfill contractual provisions on gas export.
The Department has been certified with ISO 9001(Quality management system), ISO 14001(Environmental management system) and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) to improve the quality of works, overhaul technical documentation and bring it into compliance with the international standards.
The Gas Export Department has identified and assessed “Risks and Environmental Aspects” and brought them to the allowed level to prevent dangerous situations at work.
The Department has the brand-new equipment that enables to ensure efficient water use and electricity consumption.
Predictive measures are taken to prevent possible accidents in the future and works are carried out to ensure safe and stable gas transportation.
The Department has analysed the aims and tasks set at the beginning of the last year. Questionnaires have been sent to the customers to determine their satisfaction with the quality of exported gas and the level of services. It carried out the due analysis according to the five-point assessment scale and addressed all unveiled displeasures of the customers.
Audit and standards
The internal and external audit has been carried out in the Department to control the application of international standards. According to the results, all unveiled inconsistencies were eliminated in the shortest time.
It should be noted that during the past year 25 employees of the Department attended trainings on international standards and received respective certificates. The three staff members attended the courses “Internal Auditor” in Turkey and after the successful completion of trainings they were awarded certificates.
The Gas Export Department has enjoyed the effective export performance and international activity over the past period. It continued gas supply and determined export volumes for the years to come according to the contracts signed with a number of Georgian gas companies.
The Department continues to export natural gas to the Russian Federation under the purchase-sale contract in force between SOCAR and Gazprom Export. The Gas Export Department conducted commercial activity and went on accepting gas handed over to Azerbaijan from the Shah Deniz project.
The gas supply to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is implemented according to gas swap contract with Iran.
International activity
At the same time the Gas Export Department represents SOCAR and Azerbaijan in international organizations. Since SOCAR is a member of the Gas Centre under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the employees of the Gas Export department update the UNECE Gas Centre’s database regarding the activities of SOCAR.
The Gas Export Department coordinates the cooperation between the International Gas Union and SOCAR. As part of this cooperation the information prepared by the personnel of the Gas Export Department has been placed in the IGU newsletter. The publication of data about SOCAR in the global scale prospectus is assessed as the important step towards achieving the set objectives.
Procurement and supply
The range of Gas Export Department’s duties also includes steady procurement and supply of goods, materials and equipment required for implementation of planned activities to expand the infrastructure capacity for gas transportation. This is the reason why the supply chain is effectively managed and kept under constant supervision.
In the course of renovation work, facilities under repair and/or construction are supplied with quality goods, materials and brand-new equipment.
