Turkmenistan sees discovery in Minara field

Drilling of the first deep exploration drill hole in Minara field in the east of Turkmenistan resulted in discovering new large gas reserves. At the depth of 4,030 metres the specialists of Turkmengeologiya State Concern received a thick gas discharge with the free production rate of 4.3 mm cmpd.
According to geologists such a high fuel output testifies to the high productivity of gas reservoirs. The closeness of the new gas pool to the recently explored largest field Southern Yoloten-Osman allow making the conclusion on the existence of the single unique oil-gas accumulation zone in Turkmenistan.

According to Turkmengeologiya State Concern the gas pools were discovered in Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Shatlyk bed in the Minara field. Commercial gas production started there in 1970. In 2007 operation of the field in these beds located at depths of over 3,050 metres reached the final stage.
Turkmen geologists started to prospect hydrocarbon resources in the malm subsalt carbonate deposits located at the greater depths. The seismic research, including modern 3D and 2D seismic survey methods allowed predicting the availability of gas reserves in the old fields. The successful result of drilling the first drill hole proved the Turkmen geologists' prediction. They have started to drill the second hole.

The discovery of the natural gas deposits unknown before at the Minara field confirms the boldest estimate of "blue fuel" reserves in Southern Yoloten-Osman -- the largest gas field in Turkmenistan.
As is known, according tot the results the audit conducted by the British firm Gaffney, Cline & Associates last year this field ranked among the top four largest gas deposits in the world. The audit estimated the gas reserves in Southern Yoloten-Osman as 4 tcm -- the lowest rate, 6 tcm and 14 tcm -- the highest rate. The highest rate proved the Turkmen geologists' assumptions that Minara field located 90 km far from Osman contained large gas reserves.

Turkmengeologiya specialists continue the prospecting works in Southern Yoloten-Osman and Yashlar and nearby deposits including Gunorta Garakel, Garakel, Jurji, Gazanly, Gundogar Yoloten and Gunbatar Yandakly. The Turkmen geologists have every reason to assume that these deposits and highly perspective gas areas may form the largest oil and gas zone in the world. It is supposed that it over 90 km long and 30 km wide.
The total gas reserves of this zone will exceed those in the Southern Yoloten-Osman field estimated previously.

The new data obtained through the prospecting works allowed adjusting the hydrocarbon potential of the deposits in other regions of the country. Thus, the gas-bearing basin at the Garajaovlak field was expanded, new oil and gas deposits were prospected in the Malay-Chartak and Kyrk-Geazly zones.
Thus, the effective geological works contribute to enhancing Turkmenistan's prestige as a world's energy producer able to guarantee long-term gas supply to its partners.
Source: turkmenlawyer@hotmail.com / State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)