The Kashagan Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) - Case Solution

This case solution includes an Excel file with calculations.

Project Overview – The Kashagan Production Sharing Agreement (PSA)

The Kashagan field has an area of 75 km by 45 km. It contained both oil and natural gas. It is estimated that about 35 billion barrels of oil were recoverable, and it has an estimated life of 40 years. A Kashagan Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) was signed between a consortium of international oil companies (IOCs) and the Kazakh state to govern the project and develop the field through an operating company — Agip KCO.

Economy Analysis

Porter’s Five Forces Model

PESTLE analysis

Political

• The government of the country has the ultimate power to renegotiate or shut down the project.
• Nationalists exert pressure on the authority to limit the access of foreign companies to the natural resources of the country.

Economic

• The cost of operating a business, capital expenditure, transportation, research, and development costs are high, and sometimes it is difficult to determine whether the project is worth money, time, and effort.
• Reduction in oil prices in the global market, inflation rate, and exchange rate affect the project.

Social

• The project will be quite helpful for the government to spend more money on the development and growth of society.
• Project construction and subsequent accidents could endanger the pristine coastline and biodiversity of the Caspian Sea.

Technological

• The technology used in the project under the Kashagan Production Sharing Agreement requires subsequent modification and, subject to malfunction, Capex and the operating cost can be increased.
• Dealing with deadly gas, drilling rigs, and evacuation needs to develop new technology.

Legal

• The cost of licensing might be increased in the near future. In addition, the central government could impose a higher tax rate to acquire a higher benefit, which will increase the cost of production and reduce the profit from the project.

Environmental

• The state of flora and fauna in the surrounding area, protests of environmental activists regarding the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea, and the possibility of generating a higher amount of highly toxic gas increase the impact of environmental factors.

Project analysis (SWOT analysis)

Strengths

• The project is considered the second-biggest oil exploration project.
• The project will generate revenue for the next 40 years.

Weaknesses

• The higher cost of production, capital expenditure, and operating costs.
• The geographical location and surface condition of the project are adverse.

Opportunities

• The project under the Kashagan Production Sharing Agreement is helpful in creating a long-term relationship among the members of the consortium and incubating new technologies.
• The future rate of oil shows a stable price.

Threats

• Subsequent delays in the project completion can negatively affect the project NPV.
• The government can renegotiate terms further or increase the tax rate.