On October 10 the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center held a small, off-the-record discussion with BP Azerbaijan Vice President Al Cook on Shah Deniz and progress toward realization of the Southern Gas Corridor from Baku on the Caspian Sea to Turkey and other European markets beyond it. Mr. Cook provided an update on the status on Shah Deniz Phase II, on gas pipeline architecture, on agreements with European countries to purchase volumes of Azerbaijani gas, and on other related aspects of these ambitious projects.

As BP’s Vice President for Shah Deniz Full Field Development, Al Cook is responsible for the integrated leadership of this $40 billion project, bringing gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe for the first time. The project includes construction of offshore facilities in Azerbaijan, expansion of a terminal and pipeline system from Azerbaijan to Turkey, infrastructure beyond Turkey to other European markets, and the marketing of Shah Deniz gas in Europe. Mr. Cook joined BP in 1996, working in a series of project development and commercial roles in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

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