The Bibiheybat field, located 2 km south-west of Baku, is 3 km wide and 5.5 km long. In 1846, for the first time in the world, the first industrial oil extraction from Bibiheybat was proved by historical sources, especially documents found in the Central State Historical Archive of Russia. In January of the same year, under the leadership of the director of the Baku oil and salt fields, lieutenant colonel of the corps of mining engineers N. Voskoboynikov, drilling of two wells in the Bibiheybat field began. One of the wells produces oil from a depth of 21 m, thus laying the foundation for industrial oil production in the world.
The reports signed by Prince M. Vorontsov, the Caucasian successor on the 8th to 14th of July 1847, also confirm the fact that the world’s first oil well was drilled on the shores of the Caspian Sea. After that, other wells were drilled in the field. Oil production has increased so much that in 1899, Azerbaijan ranked first in the world in terms of oil production and refining, and even half of the world’s oil production fell to our country.
At the suggestion of P. Pototsky, in 1910, the Sormovo plant was commissioned to produce a caravan of drilling rigs. The caravan, which was completed in 1916, consisted of two 1,100-horsepower vacuum cleaners, five 1,100-horsepower tugboats, 10 barges of 1,100 m3, and other facilities. In 1918, only 193 ha of the area were filled with soil. At the end of 1922, the first well No. 5 was installed in the filled area. On the 18th of April 1923, an 82.5 m deep well was drilled in Ilich Bay. The first gush of oil from this newly covered area amazes the whole world and attracts great interest at international oil conferences. In general, the fully covered area of Bibiheybat Bay has been increased to 300 ha since 1910 (within 20 years).
Pototsky died in 1932 and was buried in that part of Bibiheybat, which was “occupied” from the Caspian Sea. The first monument to him was erected on the instructions of a prominent Azerbaijani statesman, National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
The first oil well received the status of a “historical monument” and was restored by SOCAR on the 26th of April 2017. President Ilham Aliyev visited the site where he declared the world’s first oil well open to tourists.
The last recalculation of proven oil and gas reserves were carried out in 1952, and several new wells have been drilled over the years. Since 2003, microbiological impact has been implemented in the Bibiheybat field. Since the beginning of this impact, production of oil has increased only by 31,000 tons. The field operates by Bibiheybatneft OGPD of SOCAR’s Azneft PU.
Water injection is being implement for pressure maintenance since 1954. As of January 1, 2024 total of 81 MM m3 of water as a result of which 2.7 MM tonnes of additional oil has been produced. So far there were drilled 3831 wells, 547 of which are producers. Total of 163 MM tonnes of oil and 10.1 B m3 of gas has been produced. The peak oil production in Bibiheybat field has reached in 1941 with 4.6 MM tones from 1610 wells. Peak gas production occurred in 1948 with 293.7 MM m3.
After assessment of the remaining potential and remaining wells it was decided to start new stage of drilling wells in 2022. Despite reservoir being in its decline stage, newly drilled wells have produced 4-5 tonnes of oil per day from PK reservoir. There are still wells in plan to be delivered. Meanwhile one additional appraisal well is planned to assess the volumes in Miocene horizons below currently developed ones. Results from this appraise will define future well count and operations in this field.
The field is operated by Bibiheybatneft OGPD of SOCAR’s Azneft PU.