Project Profile
Exploration start date: 2007
Development start date: 2017
Start-up Year: -
LUKoil entered the Aral project in August 2006, and the PSA for a term of 35 years came into effect in January 2007. A consortium, Aral Sea Operating Co., was formed to oversee the project. It included CNPC, Korean National Oil Corporation (KNOC), LUKoil, PETRONAS and Uzbekneftegaz, each with a 20% stake. Petronas and KNOC withdrew from the project in May 2011 and September 2013 respectively, leaving LUKoil, Uzbekneftegaz and CNPC with a 33.3% equity holding each.
In 2007-2009, a 2D seismic survey totaling 3,000 linear km was conducted in the contract area covering offshore, onshore and transit areas of the Aral Sea (Karakalpakiya, in northwestern Uzbekistan). The survey identified 6 prospects, including the West Aral, where a discovery was made and confirmed by appraisal drilling, with in-place hydrocarbon reserves of 16 million tonnes of oil equivalent (117.3 boe), including more than 6 million tonnes (44 million barrels) of oil.
A new period of exploration work was planned until the end of 2016 and includes 3D seismic (field work was completed in March 2014) covering 780 square km, as well as drilling an exploration well and two dependent appraisal wells in 2015 (based on seismic and exploration drilling results).
In November 2015, drilling of the exploration well Meros-1Ex began. The well was to be drilled to a depth of 3,280 metres. The drilling of the two appraisal wells has been rescheduled to 2016.
Operators:
LUKoil: 33.3% interest
CNPC: 33.3% interest
Uzbekneftegaz: 33.3% interest
Contractors:
XIBU Drilling Engineering: Contract for Meros drilling rig (November, 2015)