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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Liu Shuchen, Chen Junfeng
Baku, February 22 (Xinhua) — "In my 20 years of working in marine seismic exploration, I can't even remember how many times I've celebrated the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year) away from home. Staying on duty and doing our job well is our best way to repay the support of our families and our homeland," said Ye Zhan, 42, a Chinese national and head of the seismic exploration team at BGP Inc., a company under the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
While China is in the midst of the joy and festivities surrounding the Spring Festival, Ye Zhan and his team continue to collect data necessary for oil production in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. A week before the festival, two vessels docked at the Baku Shipyard for just one day to replenish provisions and perform crew rotations, after which they immediately set out on a new four-week voyage.
TOMOGRAPHY OF THE SEA BED
"Our operations are carried out through collaboration between a deployer vessel and a source vessel. The former deploys the bottom nodes, while the latter generates seismic waves using airguns. Our work can be compared to performing a CT scan of the seabed," Ye Zhan explained.
In 2018, BGP Inc. and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) established the joint venture Caspian Geo. Since then, marine geophysical teams from China have been providing advanced technologies and services for the exploration and development of oil and gas resources in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
According to Wang Dalong, Technical and Resources Manager at Caspian Geo, a total of 35 Chinese specialists are working on board the two vessels. These include experienced engineers born in the 1970s and younger members of the Millennial generation. The team is divided into two shifts to ensure continuous, 24/7 operation.
"There's no room for error at any stage—from seismic wave generation and signal reception to data quality control. This is the only way to obtain a clear and reliable geological image," Wang Dalong emphasized.
TESTED BY CASPIAN WINDS
Teymur Efendiyev, a 32-year-old Azerbaijani, joined the Chinese seismic exploration team in 2023. Under the mentorship of Chinese specialists, he rose from an intern to a navigator capable of independently conducting operations. He believes the Caspian weather is one of the harshest challenges of this work.
"Work is especially challenging during the winter and spring, when strong winds cause vessel drift, which impacts our operations. Furthermore, underwater currents can affect the precision of our equipment's placement on the seabed," said T. Efendiev, adding that the Chinese team's extensive experience allows them to successfully navigate these challenges.
Work is carried out in strict compliance with safety standards: operations are suspended when waves exceed 3 meters. However, the Caspian Sea often dictates its own conditions—during the last voyage, a maximum wave height of 9 meters was recorded. Under such conditions, the crew must balance safety with adherence to the work schedule.
"My Chinese colleagues are very responsible in their work. I've adopted this approach from them: everything is done strictly according to schedule," said T. Efendiev, noting the strong team spirit—everyone supports one another and is always willing to help.
HOME IS WHERE OUR SHIP IS
"I miss my family very much, but my first priority is the safety and well-being of everyone on board. This Spring Festival, we'll be making dumplings with our Azerbaijani colleagues to celebrate the Year of the Horse," Ye Zhan said.
Particular attention is paid to the crew's well-being: a doctor is permanently on board, and a standard 20-foot container has been converted into a compact gym. The atmosphere of Spring Festival is felt in the cabins—Chinese staff have decorated the doors with the Chinese characters for "fu" (happiness) and paired red "chunlian" letters with New Year's wishes.
"We're not just colleagues; we support each other and live like one big family. I know that the Spring Festival is a very precious time in China. I'm very glad to have this opportunity to celebrate it on board with my Chinese colleagues," said T. Efendiev.
Over two years of working alongside his Chinese colleagues, T. Efendiev discovered China in all its diversity: from ancient traditions to modern megacities. He dreams of one day taking his six-year-old son on a grand tour of China to see everything for himself.
Khanali Akhmedov, 62, Operations Manager at Caspian Geo, praised the professionalism of the Chinese team and the level of cooperation between BGP Inc. and SOCAR. He noted that advanced Chinese technologies and qualified specialists are helping Azerbaijan address new challenges in developing the Caspian's oil and gas resources.
"I've visited China twice in the past two years, and the achievements I've seen there are truly astounding. On the occasion of the Spring Festival, I'd like to wish our Chinese colleagues who remain at sea and the entire Chinese people good health and prosperity," concluded H. Akhmedov.
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