In 2017 Uzbekistan will begin to develop hydrocarbons in the Aral Sea
May 29, 2015
Uzbekistan in 2017 plans to begin additional exploration, settlement and development of hydrocarbon fields in the Uzbek part of the Aral Sea waters. This is stated in the program of measures to ensure structural transformation, modernization and diversification in the years 2015-2019, approved by President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.
Under the program, preliminary project costs, calculated for the period of 2017-2031 years will be 300 million dollars. More precisely, the project cost will be determined after the development of a feasibility study. Implementation of the project will carry out an international consortium of National Holding Company (NHC) "Uzbeknaftohaz", Russian Lukoil and China's CNPC.
As previously reported, in 2005 Uzbekistan established the International Consortium for the project "Aral" in the NHC "Uzbeknaftohaz" NK Lukoil, Malaysian Petronas, Korean KNOC and Chinese CNPC with equal shares of 20 percent. PSA on Aral block was signed in 2006 for a period of 40 years and includes two parts: exploration (exploration license for a term of five years, issued to the operator - JV Aral Sea Operating Company) and further development of open hydrocarbons valid for 35 years. Starting date of the project - 31 January 2007.
In May 2011, the consortium published Petronas, and in September 2013 - KNOC. Currently the share of "Uzbeknaftohaz" in the consortium is 33.4 percent, CNPC and "Lukoil Overseas" (operator of international upstream-projects of LUKOIL) - by 33.3 percent. In 2011, a consortium fully executed program of exploration work in the amount of 2.941 thousand linear kilometers of 2D seismic method with the drilling of two exploration wells.
As a result of the search in the initial stage of exploration work opened a new field of hydrocarbons "West Aral" with preliminary estimates of natural gas reserves in the amount of 11 billion cubic meters identified six prospective structures, four of which have been certified and prepared for deep drilling. Currently working on exploration on contractual territories included in the final stage. Field work on the 3D-seismic survey in the amount of 780 square kilometers completed in March 2014.
This year it is planned to drill one search well, in 2016 - two dependent evaluation wells (including the results of seismic and exploratory drilling). According to "Uzbeknaftohaz" within the waters of the Uzbek part of the Aral Sea area of 12.5 thousand square meters possible presence of more than 30 anomalies that are identified with the oil and gas facilities.
May 29, 2015
oil-gas-energy.com.ua