Caspian Sea group tests hydrocarbons at second Kashagan well

The second well drilled by the North Caspian Sea consortium on the giant Kashagan discovery off Kazahkstan has "detected" hydrocabons, the development's single operator, ENI SPA, said Wednesday on behalf of subsidiary Agip Caspian BV. ENI said the hole will be tested when logging is completed.

March 14, 2001

2 min read

By the OGJ Online Staff

LONDON, Mar. 14�The second well drilled by the North Caspian Sea consortium on the giant Kashagan discovery off Kazahkstan has "detected" hydrocabons, the development's single operator, ENI SPA, said Wednesday on behalf of subsidiary Agip Caspian BV.

The Kashagan West 1 well, spudded last October by the Sunkar rig, was drilled to 4,982 m TD. ENI said, " it is too early to comment on the characteristics of the hydrocarbons found at Kashagan West, and further information will only be available upon completion of the testing program" slated to begin once well logging was concluded.

Once the Kashagan West 1 well is completed "in the second quarter," the Sunkar will return to east Kashagan, where hydrocarbons were discovered last year, to conduct an appraisal drilling campaign.

The Kashagan West well is 40 km from the one at Kashagan East.

Agip was chosen last month to operate the production sharing contract consortium's 11-block contract area by partners the Royal/Dutch Shell Group, BG PLC, ExxonMobil Corp., Phillips Petroleum Co., and Inpex Masela Ltd. Before Agip was named to head the group, it had been run under the aegis of the Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Co.

The PSC area covers more than 5,500 sq km in waters ranging from 2-10 m.

Determining the actual size of the Kashagan discovery has led to reserves estimates ranging from 25�60 billion bbl of oil.