Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 20 /Trend, E.Kosolapova /
By 2030, Kazakhstan may increase oil production two-fold, Senior Scientific Worker of the Economics Institute under Kazakh Education and Science Ministry, Oleg Yegorov believes.
"Kashagan will reach a certain production amount. Other marine structures have also been prepared. 15 years later we will be able to increase oil production two-fold," Yegorov told Trend on Friday.
However, in his opinion, such a sharp increase in oil production is dangerous for the ecology of the Caspian Sea and the region.
"The ruthless operation, and especially under the bottom of the Caspian Sea, is very dangerous for the environment," Yegorov said.
According to him, another negative side of the oil production in the Caspian Sea is its laboriousness and expensiveness.
"There are great depths. Special equipments, materials, not exposed to corrosion, are needed. Oil and gas, that come from the subsalt sediments are saturated with hydrogen sulfide and sulfurous compounds that corrode pipes made from conventional materials," the expert said.
According to Yegorov, the increase of oil production onshore in Kazakhstan is also possible.
"Oil production will be a little increased at the Tengiz. The production of liquid hydrocarbons on Karachaganak will also be slightly increased. But there are new discoveries, even though they are small," the expert said.
According to him, in particular, a new structure was opened near the extinct Sagiz field.
"And this is the same for each field, developed for already 50-60 years. At each field it is still possible to find oil, which lies at a shallow depth," he said.
However, according to Yegorov, Kazakhstan should not seek to sharply increase oil production.
"Today, we sell a large part of the produced oil and do not do anything in order to ensure the processing industry. It is good that now the oil prices fluctuate between $107-$108 per barrel. But there were times when one barrel was costing $7. And after 5 or 10 years it is possible that that the oil extracted from shale in the United States, will be sent to the external market. Iran, Iraq will produce more oil. And the prices will drop quickly," the expert said.
Earlier, Kazakh Minister of Oil and Gas Uzakbai Karabalin said that Kazakhstan has the potential to become one of the top ten largest oil-producing countries of the world.
"Kazakhstan expects further growth in hydrocarbon production in the foreseeable future. In this sense, Kazakhstan is one of the few countries whose peak production is yet to come. According to our forecasts, by 2030 the level of oil production in Kazakhstan may exceed 110 million tons, which gives basis for its entrance to the ten largest oil-producing countries in the future," the Minister said.