Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan. 5
By Daniar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry is preparing a package of documents to obtain a license to develop the Tsentralnoye (Central) offshore oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea, the ministry told Trend.
The package of documents is being prepared jointly with the country's national oil and gas company, KazMunaiGas.
KazMunaiGas, and Russia's Gazprom and Lukoil are the authorized organizations for the development of the Tsentralnoye project.
It was decided to conduct a supplementary exploration on the Tsentralnoye field to minimize geological risks and specify reserves.
In 2013, KazMunaiGas and TsentrKaspneftegaz, the shareholders of which are Lukoil and Gazprom, created a joint venture that should obtain an exploration and production license to hold a supplementary exploration.
But to obtain the license it is necessary to amend the agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan, dated July 6, 1998, as this document stipulates the conclusion of a production sharing agreement (PSA).
Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry, together with KazMunaiGas, is working to prepare the needed package of documents for signing a draft protocol on amending the mentioned agreement concerning the Tsentralnoye field's development.
The ministry is also working to coordinate the package with the Kazakh government bodies.
The coordination of the draft protocol on amending the mentioned agreement was completed by the Russian government bodies in September 2014, the ministry said.
In 2002, Kazakhstan and Russia drew boundaries between their sectors in the Caspian Sea, and set three border structures, namely, Kurmangazy, Khvalynskoye and Tsentralnoye.
Edited by SI