The field of the Mud Volcano (Palchig Pilpilesi) covers a large area from the end of Chilov Island to Oil Rocks. The Mud Volcano is known as a “younger brother” of Oil Rocks and both fields are operated by the Oil Rocks OGPD of SOCAR’s Azneft PU. The Mud Volcano is located 80 km east of Baku, north-east of the Absheron peninsula. The name of the field is due to the presence of mud volcanoes in these areas of the sea. The water depth there varies between 10-25 m and it is a bit deeper in some areas. The field is 10 km long and 2.5 km wide.
In 1954, as a result of the KMPV method conducted in conjunction with the MOV method, the Palchig Pilpilesi" was identified as a separate structure. Deep exploration drilling began in 1952. The first exploration well, No. 22, in the upper part of the southwest wing of the structure, did not reach the project depth. Subsequently, wells numbered 20, 79, 261, and 265 were drilled. In 1953, well No. 20 produced gas-oil from KaS and oil was obtained from PK, from explorations wells No. 79, 261, and 265 produced 30-40 tons per day of oil from PK. The distance between the exploration wells drilled in the field was taken as 400 meters, and the extraction of oil and gas from these wells demonstrated the significant prospectivity of the field. Subsequent exploration works determined the presence of industrial-significant oil and gas reservoirs on the southwest wing and the crest part of the structure. The field entered significant industrial exploitation in 1963.
In 2020-2022, 3D seismic exploration works were conducted covering the areas of Hazi Aslanov- Palchig Pilpilesi-Oil Rocks.
As of the 1st of January 2024, a total of 348 wells have been drilled there and 112 of them are still in operation. Since the beginning of the development 10.459 million tons of oil and 776 million m3 of gas have been produced at the Mud Volcano. The maximum output of the field was in 1969 - 354,000 tons. To maintain the layer pressure in the Mud Volcano, water pumping was started there in 1964. As of above-mentioned date, a total of 12.8 million m3 of water has been pumped into the layers and more than 2.22 million tons of oil has been extracted.
Control of the production processes in the field is carried out mainly on the The production processes in the field are conducted both on the pier and platforms. Considering the prospectivity of the field, plans are underway to continue the development of the Palchig Pilpilesi reservoir by constructing three new platforms and drilling new wells.