Max Petroleum announced that it has now spudded the UTS-4 appraisal well on the Uytas prospect in Block A, Kazakhstan, Proactive Investors reported.
The well will be drilled to a depth of 800 metres and it will target potential Cretaceous and Jurassic reservoirs, Max said.
The previous appraisal well, UTS-3, was deemed a success by Max.
Last week it confirmed that the well encountered a total of 31 metres of net oil pay in Cretaceous and Jurassic formations, including 17 metres of net oil pay in Cretaceous sandstone reservoirs at depths between 120 and 150 metres, with porosities ranging from 25 to 34 per cent. A further 14 metres of pay are indicated in Jurassic reservoirs at depths between 422 and 509 metres.
Max plans to complete and test the well using a work-over rig, once it has governmental approval to do so. The company also plans to acquire a high-fold 3D seismic survey over the Uytas structure in October.
This work will be done to facilitate the preparation of a long-term appraisal and development programme for the field, Max said last week.