Azerbaijan, Baku, 28 January /corr. Trend S.Aliyev / In 2008 the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) will expand drilling in independently developed fields and prospective structures, a source stated in SOCAR.
Last year the drilling forecasts made up 189,500 meters, but in reality, drilling equaled 190,000 meters. This year SOCAR intends to increase this indicator.
The company is currently realizing a program in the increase of gas production in its off-shore fields. It will mainly be realized by drilling new gas wells in the fields of Guneshli, Bulla-Deniz, 8 March and others. In addition, SOCAR intends to support existing volumes of oil production by drilling new fields.
The search-exploration will continue this year as well. Key attention is being paid to exploration drilling in the prospective structure Umid, where a platform will be installed this year. Moreover, drilling will be realized in the squares of Turkan, Jakhandar, fields of Pirallahi, Absheron and others.
In 2007 SOCAR realized drillings in volume of 190,376 meters, an increase of 38,882 meters from 2006. Production drilling in 2007 made up 185,234 meters or an increase of 35,957 on 2006. Exploration drilling in 2007 equaled 5,142 meters, which is 2,925 more than in 2006.