Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec.23 / Trend D. Azizov /
Uzbekistan plans to implement several projects in 2011-2020 to increase crude oil production worth $235 million in long-developed fields of the republic, a source in the government of the republic said.
During 2011-2020 the National Holding Company (NHC) Uzbekneftegaz, will conduct deep drilling operations of more than 100 sites. To implement this the company plans to attract foreign companies with experience on introducing advanced technologies to improve oil recovery in oil fields where extracting reserves are difficult.
The results of an examination show it is possible to extract an additional 200,000 tons annually, the spokesman said, given the planned geological and technical measures aimed at compensation for the loss of oil production, At present, Uzbekneftegaz is considering the issue of attracting these technologies from the Chinese CNPC, Korea KNOC, Delta Oil Company of Saudi Arabia, Czech Eriell Corporation, and the Russian "Oil and Gas Company."
According to the holding, Uzbekistan, given the existing volumes of hydrocarbons, can look forward to explored oil reserves for 21 years and condensate for 25 years. As previously reported, as of early 2005 forecasts promised gas reserves of 5 and 9 trillion cubic meters, oil totaling 817.7 million tons, and condensate - 360 million tons.
In Uzbekistan, about 60 percent of reliable oil reserves are active and easily extractable. The remaining resources require additional drilling of a large number of deep wells, including the use of horizontal and branched pipes, and the introduction of advanced technologies.
In 2009, liquid hydrocarbons production in Uzbekistan decreased by 7.4 percent (compared to 2008's 4.455 million tons), and natural gas by 3.7 percent (61.408 billion cubic meters).
In January-September 2010, oil and gas condensate production at the enterprises of Uzbekistan's oil industry declined by 18.8 percent compared to the same period last year, when it offered 2.781 million tons. In particular, oil production declined by 13.8 percent (1.533 million tons), and gas condensate by 24.1 percent (1.248 million tons).
Uzbekneftegaz, which comprises six joint stock companies, was established in 1998. Its holding capacity allows for natural gas production to the amount of 70 billion cubic meters, and liquid hydrocarbons in the amount of eight million tons annually.
