Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR will start drilling the third well within the framework of the creation of the underground gas storage in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The drilling of exploratory wells on the basis of the salt deposit Nehru is conducted in the Tumbul area, the company reported.

Currently, the second well designed to a depth of 820 meters has reached 725 meters. "We can probably say that drilling will be completed at this depth," the source stressed.

The drilling of five exploratory wells is planned within the framework of new gas storage.

Earlier SOCAR completed drilling of the first appraisal well. Its depth exceeded 1,200 meters.

SOCAR First Vice-President Khoshbakht Yusifzada previously said that according to the primary data, the depth of the salt deposit here is 52 meters, while the creation of underground gas storage is considered appropriate at a depth of 40 meters.

Azerbaijan is currently carrying out swap deliveries of gas to Iran in order to provide the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with gas. The underground gas storage facilities with a capacity of 200-300 million cubic meters will be enough for meeting the needs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is blockaded because of the Armenian occupation of 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories.

Currently, two underground gas storages Kalmaz and Garadagh operate in Azerbaijan.