Tajikistan: Seismic starts on Somon Oil licenses

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 13 – Manas Petroleum Corp., Baar, Switzerland, said a second seismic survey has begun on CJSC Somon Oil Co.’s Chkalovsk and West Supetau licenses in Tajikistan.

The program includes up to 115 line-km on Chkalovsk and up to 659 line-km on West Supetau. Another 24 line-km will extend across the Kyrgyz-Tajik border into Manas’ Tuzluk license in Kyrgyzstan (see map, OGJ, Nov. 19, 2007, p. 34). Vibrators will be used on land, and airguns will be employed as data are shot across the Karakum reservoir for the first time.

Somon is seeking permits to drill on both licenses. The first well is to spud at the end of the first quarter of 2012.

Santos International Ventures Pty. Ltd. has an option to farm into Somon Oil pursuant to an option agreement signed in late 2007. The PSA has yet to be ratified and remains one of the hurdles for Santos exercising the option. Prior to exercise of that option, Santos International has agreed to provide preliminary discretionary funding towards seismic costs.