News 2014
February, 2014Tender
Three blocks are put for petroleum exploration bidding in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan according to the governmental Decree # 1379 as of December 20, 2013. The first one is Kosbulak block in Kizilordinskaya region, a block nearby the Munaily field, another one in Mangistauskaya region and the last and third block - Aiday - in Atirauskaya region.
As stated earlier by the managers of JSC NC KazMunayGas, Total has interest to Kosbulak block and Master oil - to Mangistauskiy block. JV Adaiskiy-a joint venture, equally owned by Rosneft and the First International Oil Corporation (FIOC), explored the Aydai block till 2011.
The owner of 100% share of last one is a Chinese company – Sinopec. However, in 2011, the Ministry of Oil and Gas of the Republic of Kazakhstan cancelled the Production Sharing Agreement on the project due to the end of its term. Investors have decided by themselves to quit the project due to the "lack of prospect" for further exploration. Rosneft and FIOC preliminary evaluated the volume of oil reserves in Aiday block as 90 million tons of oil, however as a result of research in the block area, it turned out that the actual recoverable reserves do not exceed 900 k. tons.
As a result of the exploration works carried out on the block, there were found 19 structures, potentially containing hydrocarbons. Two fields were opened: Biikjal and South Kaskyrbulak, the deposits of which are related to oversaline sediments. In 2005, it was produced a total of around 43 000 tons of oil in Biikjal and South Kaskirbulak, even it was a trial production.
Afterwards, the Government attempted to hand over the Aiday block to the Spanish Repsol Company as the reimbursement for South Jambay project which had been closed by governmental decision, on the coastal territories of the North Caspian, where spanish oil companies had a share in the project. KazMunayGas and the Spanish Repsol Company made an agreement of intention to provide the exclusive right to carry out the geodetic researches of Aiday block to Repsol Company.
However, no further steps were taken to execute the agreements. Currently, the block is put up for the bidding again, except for the selected area with Biikjal and South Kaskyrbulak open fields, as well as the subsalt structure Kyrykmergen.