Kazakhstan, Astana, Sept. 5 / Trend, D. Mukhtarov /
Kazakhstan is interested in studying the experience of Indonesian oil and gas company Pertamina, to conduct the drilling of deep wells in the offshore fields, Kazakh Minister of Oil and Gas Uzakbai Karabalin said at a meeting with the president and CEO of Pertamina Karen Agustiawan.
"I believe that your experience in drilling deep water wells at sea and on land will be a good help for your colleagues from KazMunaiGas," the Kazakh Minister said.
He said that Kazakhstan has been engaged in the production of oil for a long time.
"This is the 114th year we have produced oil, but we have carried out drilling and geological exploration only on land. Only in recent years we began to enter the Caspian Sea. Therefore your experience is interesting to us," Karabalin added.
Kazakhstan's Oil and Gas Minister invited the Indonesian company to participate in tenders for development of oil and gas fields in the country.
"It is known that your company's policy doesn't allow geological exploration in other countries, but if there is such an opportunity, you can participate in tenders for developing new territories in Kazakhstan jointly with KazMunaiGas," he said.
In addition, according to the minister, Kazakhstan is interested in Pertamina technology on using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG).
"Our country has a large territory, where the settlements are scattered far apart and the delivery of gas to them via gas pipeline is economically difficult, therefore we seek new opportunities to use LNG not in the form of large tankers but as fuel for combines, for heating small villages of 30-50 courtyards. Therefore it is interesting for are to what extend are the technologies of your company affordable so that we could implement them," Karabalin said.
In turn, the head of the Indonesian company expressed an interest in the Kazakh proposals.
"Regarding our experience on the use of LNG and in drilling, we intend to send our proposals to the Kazakhs. We hope that the cooperation will be bilateral. We open our door to KazMunaiGas and hope that it will participate in our projects," Agustiawan said.
She reminded that Pertamina has been already engaged in the technologies on the use of LNG for 30 years.
"Now we are trying to use the energy of LNG for large commercial trucks and buses on long routes and the CNG energy - in taxis and public transport. We set the goal to diversify our energy sources and make them more environment friendly," Pertamina head said.
According to her, considering the recent requests of Kazakh side it is necessary to make amendments to the memorandum of cooperation between KazMunaiGas and the Indonesian company Pertamina, signed in May 2012, focusing on drilling and LNG.
Pertamina is an integrated state-owned oil and gas company with experience in the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas.