Tethys Petroleum discovers gas in Kazakhstan’s AKK18 well

Oil and gas exploration and production company Tethys Petroleum has announced that well AKK18 in Kazakhstan has encountered a 3.6m interval of gas-bearing Tasaran sand with an average porosity of 31%.

AKK18 was drilled to a depth of 750m, 6km south-west of Tethys’ AKK15 well. Analysis of data from the company’s second shallow gas exploration well of its 2014 programme indicates that it is similar to AKK15, which tested gas at a stable rate of around seven million cubic feet.

The AKK15 well encountered a 4m gas-bearing interval of similar quality.

The AKK18 well will be cased and prepared for production testing in conjunction with the AKK17 well in order to reduce costs.

The shallow gas programme includes the drilling of up to ten new exploration wells based on available seismic data as well as workovers and tie-ins.

The programme is targeting a three-fold increase in gas production by the beginning of 2015.

Tethys Petroleum chairman and president Dr David Robson said that the company is confident that its geological model will bring further successes through the drilling programme.

"The anticipated sale of gas into the Chinese market in 2015 at higher prices will bring a step change to the company, significantly increasing revenues through low-cost, shallow wells in a development that has low operating costs and an efficient distribution system," Robson added.