Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Jan. 26
By Mamed Dashdemirov – Trend:
Issues of effectiveness of geological exploration and hydrocarbon production in Uzbekistan were observed at a meeting chaired by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the presidential press service told Trend.
The meeting was attended by heads and experts of Uzbekneftegaz JSC, Uzburneftegaz JSC, Uzneftegazdobycha JSC, Uztransgaz JSC, State Committee of Geology and Mineral Resources and other authorities.
The Uzbek president said that the forecast for the output of natural gas and oil products in 2017 was not fulfilled due to the lack of adequate growth of reserves.
This also concerns the amount of drilling work in the process of exploration that is fulfilled by 77 percent.
Mirziyoyev noted that the operational drilling work was fulfilled by only 49 percent, and the forecast for the number of wells has been implemented by only 53 percent.
Meanwhile, the work on modernization and repair of facilities for the production of natural gas and gas transmission networks does not meet the required level.
Uzbek president determined the tasks for increasing hydrocarbon reserves and production in 2018.
In particular, by opening new fields, it is necessary to increase the volume of natural gas reserves by 57 billion cubic meters, oil and condensate reserves – by 3.6 million tons, he added.
It is necessary to complete the construction of 255 new wells and 26 new technological facilities, and overhaul of 76 wells in order to ensure the production of 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas, 3 million tons of oil and condensate.
Uzbekneftegaz JSC plans to implement 24 investment projects worth $2.76 billion, including the construction of Jizzakh refinery, equipping the second stage of the Kandym gas processing plant and others.
During the meeting, it was also noted that more than half of investments lured for the Uzbek economy account for oil and gas sphere.