Azernews.Az

Gazprom International, the only operator of foreign projects of Russian gas giant Gazprom for prospecting, exploration and development of energy fields, has fully fulfilled its obligations before Uzbekistan's government within a phased program of geological prospecting in Ustyurt region of the country, Azerbaijani news agency Trend reported.

The issue was discussed at a meeting held in the office of Gazprom International in Tashkent as Gazprom summed up work on the implementation of its investment projects in the country in 2012, the company said.

Expert assessments were drawn up on seven investment blocks on 16 perspective areas. Gazprom drilled 20 exploration wells in order to explore licensed territories.

In 2012, the company also carried out additional exploration at the Dzhel field, which was opened in 2009. The company completed 3D seismic exploration over 200 square kilometers and drilled three more wells.

The company continued to implement a project on reconstruction and further development of Shakhpakhy field in northern-western Uzbekistan.

In 2012, the company carried out major repair and commissioned five of the 19 wells that were planned to be restored. Average daily gas production from the wells amounts to 956,000 cubic meters.

As of late December, about 290 million cubic meters of gas was produced at the field, or 7 percent over the projection.

According to the company's estimates, the growth of gas production will make up at least 40 percent in 2012 compared to 2011.

Gazprom has produced a total of 2.1 billion cubic meters of gas at the Shakhpakhty field since 2004.

Initial commercial gas reserves amounting to 46.5 billion cubic meters at the Shakhpakhty field, located in the south-eastern part of Ustyurt, were approved as a result of exploration carried out there prior to 1968.