OREANDA-NEWS. March 14, 2012. Gazprom International, an operator of foreign projects of Russia’s Gazprom, started to text the second exploratory well, drilled at perspective Kumoy area at Ustyurt Plateau in Uzbekistan, the company said in a statement.

The company said that six perspective horizons were revealed at Kumoy-2 well with 4,170 meters depth and the company will test them.

In the result of these works, which will be completed by the end of the year, the company will make first assessment on perspectives of this gas-bearing area. According to preliminary data, the productive objects have high quality methane gases with low content of sulphuretted hydrogen and carbonic acid gas.

Kumoy area is located within Shakhpakhti investment block and 25 km away from Djel field, which was opened by Gazprom in 2009. Forecasted resources of the field are estimated at 6 billion cubic meters of gas and 40,000 tonnes of gas condensate.

The company carried out full complex of geological exploration works within the five-year programme, which was completed in the beginning of 2012. Currently, the company is calculating reserves of the field, which will be submitted to the State Commission on reserves under the Cabinet of Ministers.

Cooperation of Gazprom and Uzbekistan is based on agreement on principles of exploration of entrails at investment blocks of Ustyurt region from 2006. The agreement envisages providing Gazprom exclusive right for development of new hydrocarbon fields based on production-sharing agreement.

Djel field is located 235 km from Central Asia – Center gas pipeline. Gazprom had invested US0 million to exploration works at Ustyurt region since December 2006.

At the same time with exploration works, Gazprom International caries out development of Shakhpakhti field in Karakalpakstan.