The Umid field is located in the Caspian Sea, 75 km south of Baku. The deposit belongs to a shoal formed on the basis of underwater mud volcanoes. The uplift consists of anticline folds extending in a north-western, south-eastern direction. The depth of the sea in the area of the 45-km2 field is in the range of 40-60 m.
The Umid structure was determined during the geophysical works in 1953. The deep drilling works began in 1977. Nine exploration wells were drilled in 1977-1996, but no productive layers were discovered due to the lack of technology at the time. The fold’s morphology was clarified during the seismic exploration in 1981-1983. As a result of seismic work carried out in 1987, the arch and south-eastern periclinal parts of the structures were studied in detail, and additional information was obtained about a single anticline that includes the Umid and Babek structures. In general, the geological structure of the area was clarified as a result of 2D seismic surveys carried out in the structure in 1977-1999.
As it was not possible to assess the full capacity of the Umid structure on the basis of the results obtained so far, it was decided to drill a search and exploration well in the structure. For this reason, the Umid-1 platform in the field was put into operation in June 2009. The first exploration well was drilled here in August of that year. In the north-eastern part of the fold, exploration well No. 8 was drilled to a depth of 6,006 m near the arch, thus revealing the gas saturation of the field.
Umid is the first field SOCAR discovered on its own after the restoration of the country’s state independence. All operations, from the construction of a stationary seabed in the Umid field at a depth of 58 m to drilling works, were carried out by SOCAR on its own. As it was not possible to carry out testing in exploration well No.8 due to technical reasons, new well No.10 was drilled in 2012 and it confirmed the gas saturation of the field.
According to preliminary results, the field’s reserves are estimated at 127,1 bcm of gas and 19,9 million tons of condensate. Since the beginning of exploitation in 2012 until January 1, 2024, the gas condensate field has produced a total of more than 8,5 bcm of gas and about 1306,000 tons of condensate. The field produces an average of 5.2 million m3 of gas and 740 tons of condensate per day from 5 wells in operation. 1 more well is expected to put into operation in Umid-1 platform in coming stages.
The field is operated by the Umid-Babek Operating Company (UBOC). In June 2009, SOCAR Umid Oil and Gas Ltd (SOCAR - 80%, Nobel Oil Exploration & Production - 20%) was established to conduct operations at the Umid offshore structure. On January 12, 2017, Risk Service Agreement relating to Exploration and Development of Offshore Block including Umid Field and Babek Perspective Structure in the Azerbaijan Sector of the Caspian Sea between SOCAR and SOCAR Umid Oil and Gas Ltd, as well as Contract on Conduct of Petroleum Operations among SOCAR Umid Oil and Gas Ltd and Umid, Babek Exploration and Production (UBEP) were signed. In accordance with the contract, UBOC Operating Company was established, and obligations were assigned to its branch in Azerbaijan.