Kazakhstan: Output hike eyed from Doris oil find

Feb. 18, 2011
Tethys Petroleum Ltd. looks to boost oil production from its Doris discovery in the North Caspian basin to 3,000-4,000 b/d in mid-2011 from as much as 750 b/d at present by adding a processing unit and rail connection.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 18
– Tethys Petroleum Ltd. looks to boost oil production from its Doris discovery in the North Caspian basin to 3,000-4,000 b/d in mid-2011 from as much as 750 b/d at present by adding a processing unit and rail connection.

The new facilities will replace the current scheme of shipping unprocessed oil 430 km to near Emba to generate cash flow and gain experience with trucking logistics.

A 50-50 joint venture between TethysMunaiGaz and Eurasia Gas LLP will install equipment at the AKD01 wellsite to process the oil to refinery specifications. The rail terminal will sharply reduce trucking distance. Tethys expects reduced costs and perhaps higher prices for the larger, processed oil volumes.

Further storage and infrastructure upgrades are planned for later in the year. The Doris discovery well initially flowed at more than 6,800 b/d of oil. Tethys is preparing to test the AKD03 Dione well and is progressing activities on the AKD04 Doris appraisal well and the KBD01 exploratory well.