The first gas from the Absheron field is planned to be received in the third quarter of 2020, according to Total. The development of the Absheron field is a multi-phase project. The first phase of development is ongoing. Drilling began in February 2018 and is expected to be complete by mid-2019. The first gas is planned to be delivered by the third quarter of 2020. The first phase includes the drilling of one well at a sea depth of 450 meters. The expected production is 1.5 bcm of gas and 700,000 tons of condensate per year. At the second stage, it is expected to produce up to 4 bcm per year. The Absheron field is located 25km away from the Shah Deniz gas and condensate field, which is also part of the Absheron block. Most of the gas from Shah Deniz is exported and serves other markets. The gas from the Absheron field will serve Azerbaijan’s domestic market. SOCAR and Total signed an agreement in 2016 on the contractual and commercial principles regulating the program of the first phase development of Absheron. The Joint Operation Company for Absheron Petroleum, commonly known as JOCAP, was the first time Total and SOCAR established a joint company. The joint venture project is evenly split with SOCAR and Total both owning 50 percent.