MOSCOW, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Production of oil and gas
condensate at Kazakhstan's giant Kashagan project has decreased
since Oct. 6 due to unplanned maintenance, the energy ministry
told Reuters on Wednesday.
It declined to elaborate. Two industry sources said daily
production at Kashagan had fallen to 40,300 tonnes (294,000
barrels) on average from 50,000 tonnes (365,000 barrels) in
early October.
They said the drop in production followed a loss of pressure
at one compressor and subsequent maintenance.
The ministry said the maintenance would be completed "in the
near future".
Kashagan oil is a major component of CPC Blend crude, which
is shipped via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system.
Kashagan is being developed by a consortium that includes
Eni, ExxonMobil, CNPC, Royal Dutch
Shell, Total, Inpex and Kazakh state
energy firm KazMunayGaz.
(Reporting by Alla Afanasyeva; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin;
Editing by Dale Hudson)