Caspiy Meruerty Operating Co BV drilling Kazakhstan appraisal

This article is extracted from International Oil Letter, Vol 25 issue 22, published 1 June 2009.

Caspiy Meruerty Operating Company bv (CMOC), the operator of the Zhemchuzhiny (Pearls) offshore contract area in Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea, is underway at an important first appraisal to the Hazar discovery. Hazar 2 has a planned total depth of 2,075m and is expected to take 110 days to drill using the Eurasia Drilling "Astra" J/U. Completed in 2007, Hazar was CMOC's first discovery in the contract area. The well reached a total depth of 2,118m and the reservoir's net pay was estimated at 50-70m. An openhole interval of 1,500-2,000m was tested. Four prospects have been identified within the contract area: Hazar, Tulpar, Auezov and Naryn. The contract's exploration period will expire in 2011. The operator believes that nearly 50% of the area's total undiscovered resources are concentrated in Hazar. The operator estimates total possible resources of the contract area at 600 MMbo.

CMOC is owned by Shell RD Offshore Ventures Ltd (40%), KazMunayTeniz (a KazMunayGaz company; 40%) and the Oman Pearls Company Ltd (20%).

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