BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 22.
Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas (KMG) and China National Petroleum
Corporation (CNPC) are exploring advanced technologies to replenish
the country’s hydrocarbon reserves and improve oil recovery from
existing fields, according to KMG.
The companies discussed new approaches to geological
exploration, deep-well drilling and artificial intelligence at the
4th Kazakhstan-CNPC Technical Seminar in Astana.
KMG’s Chairman of the Management Board Askhat
Khassenov said replenishing the resource base is a key factor in
the strategic sustainability of the oil and gas sector, especially
amid the natural depletion of fields. KMG is carrying out
additional exploration at operating fields, including joint assets
with CNPC in the Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions.
“The partnership between KazMunayGas and CNPC over
decades is a bright example of successful interstate cooperation in
the oil and gas sector. We have implemented large-scale projects in
production, transportation and refining of hydrocarbons. I am
confident that combining the geological and technical expertise of
KMG specialists with the technological capabilities of our Chinese
partners will help overcome new challenges for the industry, with
an emphasis on innovation and stronger scientific and technical
potential,” Khassenov said.
At the seminar, Kazgermunai presented the results of
reinterpreting seismic data at the Akshabulak, Aksai and Nuraly
fields in the Kyzylorda region. Seven appraisal wells were drilled
in 2021–2026, and six of them produced oil inflows. Confirmed
growth in initial recoverable reserves exceeded 1 million tons.
Four more appraisal wells are planned for 2027–2029, with expected
reserves growth of about 500,000 tons.
KMG, both independently and with international
partners, is expanding the geography of its geological studies,
focusing on new promising areas and deep-lying oil and gas
complexes. The seminar reviewed KMG’s studies of Paleozoic deposits
and shale oil in the South Turgay Basin, little-explored areas of
the Shu-Sarysu Basin, and Paleozoic complexes in the Mangyshlak and
Pre-Caspian basins.
PetroKazakhstan Kumkol Resources shared its
exploration experience in the South Turgay Basin. Since 2005, the
company has discovered 20 oil and gas areas, adding nearly 52
million tons of recoverable oil reserves. It is considering
drilling 13 exploration and appraisal wells at the West Tuzkol,
Aryskum and Kyzylkiya fields to refine the geological structure of
deposits, assess additional reserves and increase production.
Potential areas of KMG-CNPC cooperation in exploration
include advanced seismic and data processing methods, drilling and
testing of deep wells, and artificial intelligence for analyzing
large volumes of geological and geophysical data.
KMG’s strategy for enhanced oil recovery was among the
central topics. Specialists from KMG Engineering presented a
comprehensive assessment of 12 priority fields and 32 development
objects, for which a portfolio of enhanced oil recovery
technologies has been formed. It includes optimizing reservoir
pressure maintenance systems, horizontal drilling, hydraulic
fracturing, and chemical and thermal methods.
According to forecasts, additional oil production will
reach 10 million tons over five years. The plan provides for phased
research, pilot testing and industrial use of the most effective
solutions.
The seminar also looked at expanding polymer flooding,
which is used at six sites at the Kalamkas field in the Mangystau
region. CNPC shared its experience in gas injection technologies
for enhanced oil recovery, development of high-viscosity oil
deposits at the Xinjiang oilfield, and high-efficiency drilling and
production technologies.
