By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 26 -- Turkmenistan's oil and gas production climbed in 2002, and the country hopes to repeat the performance this year, said the Ministry of Oil & Gas Industry & Mineral Resources in Ashgabat.
Crude and condensate production exceeded 9 million tons in 2002, up 12.4% from 2001. Gas production was 53.5 bcm, up 4%. The 2003 plan is to boost oil and condensate production 50% to 13.5 million tons and gas output 26% to 67.6 bcm.
2003 expectations
Increased drilling is on tap to realize the production gains targeted for 2003.
State Turkmenneft is to produce 10 million tons of oil and condensate, including 574,000 tons from Yashyldepe (Kokdumalak) field. Foreign companies operating under production-sharing agreements will turn out 2.6 million tons (OGJ, Oct. 21, 2002, p. 49). State concerns Turkmengaz and Turkmengeologiya will produced 200,000 tons and 100,000 tons of condensate, respectively.
The state companies plan to appraise oil deposits in Mesozoic sediments in Cheleken, Gundogar (East) Cheleken, Akpatlavuk, and Goturdepe fields, which the ministry said are to serve as the core development areas for hydrocarbon production (see map, OGJ, Oct. 14, 2002, p. 43).
Exploration drilling is planned at Korpedje, Gunorta (South) Gamyshlyja, Akpatlavuk, and Goturdepe fields
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The state companies plan to drill 38 wells totaling 110,600 m of hole and place 46 wells on production. The ministry said, "To implement these objectives there are plans to increase the number of drilling rigs, hire new drilling and geophysical crews and involve foreign service companies."
Turkmengaz gas projects include completion of infrastructure and start-up of pilot production at Gazyldepe (Gagarina) and Balguyi fields, drilling of 25 development wells totaling 66,150 m, tie-in of 22 wells at the producing Dovletabad, Garashsyzlygyn 10 yillygy, Malay, Yelguyi, and Chartak fields, and gas production enhancements at Gundogar (East) and Gunbatar (West) Shatlyk fields.
Turkmenneft gas projects include tie-in of more development wells at Korpedje field and the implementation of the investment program for exploration, commercial development, and field infrastructure construction at Keymir, Akpatlavuk, and Chekichler gas-condensate fields.
2002 performance
Turkmenneft produced 7.84 million tons of oil and condensate in 2002, up 7.4%, and companies operating under PSAs produced 508,000 tons, double the 2001 figure, the ministry said. Turkmengaz produced 188,200 tons of condensate, up 7.4%.
During 2002, 24 new oil wells went on production and 49 wells were converted to high-pressure gas lift and 75 were placed on artificial lift. Commingled dual completion production was introduced at 18 wells, and another 229 idle oil wells were reactivated. These actions yielded 2.1 million tons of oil.
The 2002 gas production came from Turkmengaz 45.2 bcm, up 4.2%, and Turkmenneft 8.2 bcm, up 7%. Gas exports rose 5% to 39.3 bcm, although field production capacity far exceeds the volume of exported gas.
The country hooked up 50 new gas wells at Garashsyzlygyn 10 yillygy (Beshgyzyl), Yelguyi, Dovletabad, Malay-Chartak, Korpedje, North Balguyi, Keymire, and Akpatlavuk fields. It also returned to production 50 idle gas wells.
Operations were under way to optimize production from mature fields: Kerpichli, Kukurtli, North Balguyi, Nayip, and Shatlyk.
