Uzbekneftegaz Starts First Exploration Well on Ustyurt

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — JSC Uzbekneftegaz and China’s XIBU are moving to a new stage of a project to drill 30 deep exploration wells on the Ustyurt Plateau. Drilling of the first exploration well at the Kyzylzhar field will begin on 25 July.

The progress of the project was discussed during a working meeting between Uzbekneftegaz Chairman of the Management Board Abdugani Sanginov and XIBU executives. The sides focused on accelerating planned activities and mobilising nine modern drilling rigs involved in the project.

Under the agreements reached, drilling operations at all wells included in the current stage of the project are planned to begin by 15 August.

During the meeting, the head of Uzbekneftegaz instructed XIBU to reduce the construction period of each well by 50 days through the maximum use of available technical and organisational resources.

The sides also discussed prospects for drilling additional exploration wells on the Ustyurt Plateau, as well as technical and organisational issues related to a possible expansion of the project.

The project is being implemented under an international EPC/service contract. The foreign partner is carrying out drilling operations using modern technologies and highly qualified specialists. At the same time, rights to subsoil use, completed wells and identified hydrocarbon reserves remain fully with Uzbekneftegaz.

The company said the project is aimed at improving the efficiency of geological exploration through the introduction of modern technologies and accelerating the discovery of new hydrocarbon reserves.

Following the meeting, the sides expressed confidence that implementation of the planned measures will strengthen the country’s resource base and contribute to further cooperation.