BP's December BTC Oil Exports to Rise Near to Normal

By Alexander Kwiatkowski

Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil shipments through BP Plc's Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in December will return close to levels last seen before a gas leak slashed output in September.

Thirty-three cargoes totaling 24.2 million barrels are expected to be shipped at the Ceyhan terminal in Turkey next month, averaging 780,645 barrels a day, according to the loading program obtained by Bloomberg.

In the first six months of the year, prior to any output disruptions, the pipeline was scheduled to pump an average of 755,625 barrels a day, according to loading schedules. BP, the operator of the link, said in June exports were about 850,000 barrels a day.

Supplies through the BTC pipe were cut by a fire in August and reduced to as low as 300,000 barrels a day after a gas leak on Sept. 17. BP has since been increasing output and the pipeline was due to export about 548,571 barrels a day between Oct. 18 and Nov. 21.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alexander Kwiatkowski in London at akwiatkowsk2@bloomberg.net