Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 17
By Nigar Guliyeva – Trend:
New industrial gas condensate reserves have been discovered in Uzbekistan, Uzbekneftegaz said in a message on Jan.17.
The new reserves have been discovered on the "Lower Surgil" square on the Ustyurt plateau in Karakalpakstan.
Exploration on the field began in accordance with the presidential decree "On Measures to expand exploration work in the Ustyurt Oil and Gas Region of Uzbekistan" dated Feb. 2, 2017. Thus, specialists of JSC "Uzbekgeofizika" expanded the search for hydrocarbons on the Ustyurt plateau.
"Despite the unfavorable conditions and sharp temperature changes in this region, experts installed drilling rig No. 1 and laid the first well. Forecasts of domestic geologists have been confirmed - the first cubic meters of gas were received from the well," the company said.
In early January 2018, thanks to the carried out mining and geophysical work, it was possible to reveal industrial volumes of gas condensate at a depth of 3,600 meters.
The Surgil deposit has become one of the most important deposits in the development program of the oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan for the near future. Its development and operation is aimed at increasing the volume of extraction and processing of valuable resources, expanding the industrial infrastructure.
In the near future, specialists will assess the growth in hydrocarbon reserves and prepare proposals for further exploration activities at the Nizhny Surgil field.
The proven reserves of natural gas in Uzbekistan are 1.1 trillion cubic meters. Total reserves are estimated at the level of 5 trillion cubic meters.
In 2017, gas production in Uzbekistan amounted to 56.4 billion cubic meters. This year, this figure is planned to be brought to 66 billion.
To meet the rapidly growing needs of the economy in energy resources, the Program for increasing hydrocarbon production for 2017-2021 is being realized in the country since last year, the cost of which is estimated at almost $4 billion.