Uzbekistan, Tashkent, May 15 /Trend D.Azizov/
Gazprom plans to begin talks with Uzbekneftegaz to develop the Gelle gas field in Ustyurt under a PSA, Gazprom EP International head Maksut Anderzhanov said.
Negotiations on the PSA is scheduled to begin after the preparation of a report by a Russian company for the calculation of natural gas and gas condensate deposits of Gelle and its approval by the State
Reserves Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, the article says. More precise timing isn't specified.
"The proximity of the field to Shakhpakhty field, which is operating and connected to the main pipelines, makes the development of Gelle feld economically viable," the article says.
Gazprom plans to continue exploration on Shakhpakhty investment block ithin the prospective area Kuma.
It is planned to test six producing horizons of Kuma-2 well, drilled to a depth of 4.170 thousand meters.
"In the case of positive results over the next three years exploration will be continued in the area, which will allow to clarify the reserves, to protect them and to begin to develop under the PSA," the article says.
The question of extension of the PSA on Shakhpakhty field to involve subsurface deposits in the development is also considered at the moment.
"So far the development of Shakhpakhty assumed the development of the upper reservoirs, which have been already operating. Now we are talking about entering the deeper "floors", which still remain intact" Anderzhanov said in the article.
As previously reported, Gazprom has started exploration of natural gas from Shakhpakhty field in Ustyurt under the PSA in August 2004. The total volume of cumulative production to date amounted to about two billion cubic meters. The investment amounted to $25 million.
In February of this year, Gazprom announced the completion of exploration in Ustyurt region of Uzbekistan worth $400 million.
Five-year exploration program, which included three stages, was adopted in 2006.
Geological and geophysical surveys and drilling of exploration wells have been carried out during the first two.
As a result of the third and final phase, calculated for 2009-2011, Gelle gas field was discovered at Shahpahti investment block.
According to preliminary calculations, the gas reserves at the field may be about 10 billion cubic meters.