At the first stage, the consortium started development drilling of the Chirag field in August 1997. First oil was produced in November 1997. This development stage was also known as "the Early Oil Project (EOP)". Originally, produced oil was exported through the Baku–Novorossiysk pipeline. A contract on the oil transportation via Russia to the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk was signed on 18 February 1996. The oil transportation through the pipeline started on 25 October 1997. For the diversification of the export routes, construction of the Baku–Supsa Pipeline was agreed in 1996. The pipeline became operational in 1998 and was officially inaugurated 1999. At the Chirag field, the water injection project was implemented in 1999 and the drilling technology was upgraded in 2000.