Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 13 / Trend A.Badalova /
Kazakhstan's oil production will increase by 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.72 million bpd in 2013, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts. Last month EIA predicted the country's oil production for the next year at 1.77 million bpd.
According to the EIA's report on the short-term energy outlook, the highest level of Kazakhstan's oil production in 2013 will be observed in the third and fourth quarters - 1.75 million bpd. In the first quarter of next year the production will amount to 1.69 million bpd, in the second - 1.71 million bpd.
In 2012 EIA expects Kazakhstan's oil production at 1.57 million bpd compared to 1.64 million bpd in 2011.
In the third quarter of 2012 the country's oil production will amount to 1.45 million bpd, in the fourth quarter - to 1.6 million bpd compared to 1.63 million bpd in the first quarter and 1.59 million bpd in the second quarter of the year.
According to BP, the proven oil reserves in Kazakhstan amounted to 39.8 billion barrels in early 2011, but hit 1.757 million barrels per day in 2010, or 4.4 percent more than the volume in 2008.
Kazakhstan produces oil mainly from its largest oil fields - Karachaganak and Tengiz.
Karachaganak field, opened in 1997 in north-western Kazakhstan, has estimated initial reserves of hydrocarbons in the volume of 9 billion barrels of condensate and 1.37 trillion cubic meters of gas.
Tengiz field, opened in 1979 in western Kazakhstan, has estimated reserves of about 26 billion barrels.