KAZAKH LIQUIDS, GAS RESERVES TALLIED

Kazakhstan's 160 fields hold reserves totaling 15.36 billion bbl of oil, 62.9 tcf of gas, and 6.01 billion bbl of condensate, data compiled by Kazakh Scientific Research Geological Exploration Petroleum Institute (Kaznigri) show. Tabaniyaz K. Niyazgaliyev, head of Kaznigri's department of reserves and resources, told a Geneva symposium 100 fields tie in the republic's onshore pre-Caspian basin with reserves totaling 9.4 billion bbl of oil, 58 tcf of gas, and 5.98 billion bbl of

July 26, 1993

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Tabaniyaz K. Niyazgaliyev, head of Kaznigri's department of reserves and resources, told a Geneva symposium 100 fields tie in the republic's onshore pre-Caspian basin with reserves totaling 9.4 billion bbl of oil, 58 tcf of gas, and 5.98 billion bbl of condensate.

Niyazgaliyev said potential reserves for the pre-Caspian basin amount to 50 billion bbl of oil, 15 billion bbl of condensate and 280 tcf of gas, including about 15 billion bbl of oil in offshore reservoirs.

Kaznigri Deputy Director Oleg S. Turkov said 80% of potential resources lie below 16,000 ft. Deep reservoirs and sour hydrocarbons are the main hindrances to increased production.

Petroconsultants SA, Geneva, estimated Kazakhstan's 1992 oil and condensate production averaged 511,500 b/d, while gas flow averaged 505 MMcfd.

Most Kazakh oil comes from the Mangyshlak and Buzachi peninsulas with total 1992 production averaging 243,250 b/d, down 13% from 1991.

Oil production from the Kazakh pre-Caspian basin averaged 229,200 b/d in 1992, up 2.4% from 1991. That included 17,800 b/d from Karachaganak field, currently being studied for gas development by British Gas plc and Agip SpA (OGJ, July 13, 1992, p. 24).

Production figures for Tengiz field were not broken out, but Petroconsultants estimated an average 63,000 b/d last year. Turgay basin production total averaged 25,470 b/d in 1992, up 9% from 1992.

Petroconsultants said the overall Kazakh production decline was due to poor performance in old Mangyshlak-Buzachi fields and fluctuation in Karachaganak production. Those could not be fully offset by increased production from Tengiz field and the Turgay basin.