Tethys Petroleum plans to drill exploration wells in Doris field, Kazakhstan

Tethys Petroleum has announced plans to spud the AKD08 exploration well to the south-west of the Doris field in Kazakhstan in early August.

The well is expected to hold approximately 22 million barrels gross mean unrisked recoverable prospective oil resources.

Tethys intends to target the same Upper Jurassic Carbonate and Lower Cretaceous sandstone sequences that are proven in Doris. It is expected totake around 45 days to reach a planned depth of 2,420m.

The company has purchased progressive cavity pumps to carry out a testing programme on various other suspended oil wells in Kazakhstan.

Following the effective doubling of the realised gas price in January, Tethys has started looking into gas development in the region.

The company is preparing to conduct workovers on the AKK05 and AKK14 wells in the third quarter and also plans to drill five further shallow gas exploration wells in the central and south-eastern part of the Akkulka Exploration Contract. The wells are expected to take up to three weeks each to reach about 600m-800m measured depth.

The new Kazakhstan-China gas trunkline, currently under construction, is planned to pass through Tethys’ contract areas to provide an additional commercialisation route.

Tethys has plans to begin a testing programme on the Permo-Carboniferous interval in KBD01 or Kalypso well in the third quarter in the Kul-Bas block.This block is expected to hold 122 billion cubic feet gross mean unrisked recoverable prospective resources.

Tethys plans to conduct 2D seismic over identified prospects in the south-west part of the Kul-Bas block and for acquisition within the Akkulka block. It plans 3D seismic for prospects in the north-west of the producing Doris wells.

Tethys will also install an electrical dehydrator in the Aral Oil Terminal, as part of its Phase 3 expansion, which is expected to be commissioned and operational in Q3.

Tethys Petroleum executive chairman and president, Dr. David Robson, said, "The combination of new exploration, testing of existing wells and workovers will move Tethys closer to exploiting the high potential of its gas and liquids portfolio, at a modest cost for shareholders."

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Image: Tethys Petroleum is planning to drill five shallow gas exploration wells in the central and south-eastern part of the Akkulka Exploration Contract in Kazakhstan. Photo: courtesy of ShavPS.