By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, July 4 -- Operator Texaco Inc. has completed drilling as part of the second phase of its appraisal program on the North Buzachi onshore field in Kazakhstan's Mangistau province. The program at North Buzachi field involved both 2D and 3D seismic data acquisition and the drilling of 30 new wells on top of the four drilled under phase one appraisal.
Texaco said it would evaluate phase two results with a view to taking a decision on full field development -- which could involve the drilling of as many as 600 wells over a 10-year period -- likely in the first half of next year.
"Phase two involved evaluating the use of steam stimulation and water injection at the field with knowledge gained from this assessment work being used to increase our understanding of how to best develop the field," said Mark Johnson, vice president of Texaco North Buzachi Inc.
Current oil production at the field, which stands at 4,000 b/d, is expected to rise to 7,000 b/d by the end of the year.
North Buzachi crude is being exported to Germany via the Russian pipeline system to the north, across the Caspian to Baku in Azerbaijan, and onward to the Black Sea port of Batumi, as wells as a to local Kazakh refinery.
Precision Drilling International, a subsidiary of Canada's Precision Drilling Corp. was awarded the contract to conduct drilling operations using its Super Single rig, PD 709, a unit "particularly suited for drilling applications in environmentally sensitive and remote locations," according to Texaco.
Kazakhstan company, Azimuth carried out the full-scale acquisition of seismic data over a 92 km area employing a local workforce of more than 300 people.
Texaco has a 65% stake in the field with Nimir Petroleum Ltd. holding a 35% interest.
