Kazakhstan confirmation well proves 10 billion bbl field

ENI SPA, recently named operator of the North Caspian Sea Consortium, Friday confirmed production tests carried out on the Kashagan West 1 well off Kazakhstan have proved reserves of at least 10 billion bbl. The well flowed at a rate of up to 3,398 b/d of oil and 215,000 cu m/day of gas.

May 4, 2001

2 min read

By the OGJ Online Staff

LONDON, May 4 -- ENI SPA, recently named operator of the North Caspian Sea Consortium, Friday confirmed production tests carried out on the Kashagan West 1 well off Kazakhstan have proved reserves of at least 10 billion bbl of oil.

The Italian oil and gas company, which is leading the development of Kashagan through subsidiary Agip Caspian Sea BV, said the well flowed at a rate of up to 3,398 b/d of oil and 215,000 cu m/day of gas through a 32/64-in. choke, confirming the promise of the field's discovery well, Kashagan East 1.

Kashagan West 1 was drilled last October to 4,982 m TD in roughly 7 m of water.

"This is a confirmation of the Kashagan field's consistency, already highlighted by the interpretation of the seismic data," stated ENI. "Moreover, this excellent correspondence between seismic data and test results is encouraging for the three other structures identified in the area, which will be drilled later on, to be oil-bearing."

ENI said that based on the tests, well producibility is expected to range between 5,000 b/d and 20,000 b/d of oil with gravity of between 42° and 45°.

Following completion of the latest well, the Sunkar rig will return to Kashagan East to begin an appraisal drilling program, said ENI.

The seven-company North Caspian Sea Consortium, also known as the Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Co., consists of ENI, Royal Dutch/Shell Group, BG PLC, ExxonMobil Corp., Phillips Petroleum Co., and Inpex Masela Ltd.

The 11 blocks operated by the consortium cover a total area of 5,500 sq km, with a maximum water depth of 10 m. Estimates of Kashagan reserves range as high as 50 billion bbl.