Tajikistan hopes to discover oil and gas reserves to reduce import dependence
In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the head of the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan, Ilhom Oimuhammadzoda, noted on July 7 that Tajikistan hopes to discover domestic oil and gas reserves that could help reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel.
According to him, the main exploration work in this area is currently being carried out with the participation of China National Petroleum Corporation, or CNPC.
Journalists asked Oimuhammadzoda about the situation at oil and gas sites in the Tajik Depression, where CNPC is conducting exploration work. The questions focused on whether field development had begun, whether approximate reserves had been identified and whether Tajikistan could eventually become less dependent on imported petroleum products.
Oimuhammadzoda said CNPC had carried out a significant amount of geophysical work in recent years. The company has already submitted geological reports based on gravity and magnetic surveys.
Seismic exploration work is now close to completion, he said. CNPC specialists are processing the data, which is expected to help identify the most promising geological structure for drilling. Once this work is completed, a drilling site will be selected.
«I think that by the end of the year they will submit a report on the progress of seismic exploration work, and after that it will be determined where drilling can be carried out,» Oimuhammadzoda said.
According to him, drilling wells as deep as 7,000 meters is being considered. However, the final drilling location has not yet been chosen. CNPC has preliminary sites, but the decision will depend on the results of seismic studies.
Oimuhammadzoda emphasized that oil and gas reserves at the sites have not yet been confirmed. He said the work concerns deep geological structures that cannot be properly assessed without drilling.
At this stage, geologists are studying whether there are underground structures that could contain oil or gas. Actual reserves can be discussed only after drilling confirms their presence.
Asked whether Tajikistan could reduce its dependence on fuel imports, Oimuhammadzoda said the Main Geology Directorate is working in this direction together with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources.
«We are very hopeful that we will have good oil and gas reserves, because this is very important for independence,» he said.
According to him, Tajikistan has two promising oil and gas basins: the Tajik Depression and the Fergana Valley. He added that in the north of the country there are also sites where drilling at depths of more than 7,000 meters had previously been considered.
Rangon and Sariqamish sites
Journalists also asked about the Rangon gas site, which in previous years was described as promising. Oimuhammadzoda said CNPC is also working in this area. The company holds a license for the site, and additional geological studies are ongoing.
Another question concerned Sariqamish, a site where Gazprom previously carried out exploration work. The project had earlier raised expectations because of possible large gas reserves.
According to Oimuhammadzoda, Gazprom drilled a well at Sariqamish to a depth of around 6,450 meters before closing the project. Several productive layers were identified during drilling, he said, but they did not provide enough grounds to confirm industrial oil or gas reserves. As a result, geological work at the site was discontinued.
At present, Oimuhammadzoda said, the main oil and gas exploration work in Tajikistan is linked to CNPC. The company has already conducted gravity, magnetic and seismic surveys. After the data is processed, a site for deep drilling may be selected.
The Main Geology Directorate stressed that the current focus remains on exploration. Tajikistan has not yet confirmed large industrial oil or gas reserves at these sites.
The key conclusions will become clear only after seismic studies are completed, a drilling location is selected and deep wells are drilled.
According to him, the main exploration work in this area is currently being carried out with the participation of China National Petroleum Corporation, or CNPC.
Journalists asked Oimuhammadzoda about the situation at oil and gas sites in the Tajik Depression, where CNPC is conducting exploration work. The questions focused on whether field development had begun, whether approximate reserves had been identified and whether Tajikistan could eventually become less dependent on imported petroleum products.
Oimuhammadzoda said CNPC had carried out a significant amount of geophysical work in recent years. The company has already submitted geological reports based on gravity and magnetic surveys.
Seismic exploration work is now close to completion, he said. CNPC specialists are processing the data, which is expected to help identify the most promising geological structure for drilling. Once this work is completed, a drilling site will be selected.
«I think that by the end of the year they will submit a report on the progress of seismic exploration work, and after that it will be determined where drilling can be carried out,» Oimuhammadzoda said.
According to him, drilling wells as deep as 7,000 meters is being considered. However, the final drilling location has not yet been chosen. CNPC has preliminary sites, but the decision will depend on the results of seismic studies.
Oimuhammadzoda emphasized that oil and gas reserves at the sites have not yet been confirmed. He said the work concerns deep geological structures that cannot be properly assessed without drilling.
At this stage, geologists are studying whether there are underground structures that could contain oil or gas. Actual reserves can be discussed only after drilling confirms their presence.
Asked whether Tajikistan could reduce its dependence on fuel imports, Oimuhammadzoda said the Main Geology Directorate is working in this direction together with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources.
«We are very hopeful that we will have good oil and gas reserves, because this is very important for independence,» he said.
According to him, Tajikistan has two promising oil and gas basins: the Tajik Depression and the Fergana Valley. He added that in the north of the country there are also sites where drilling at depths of more than 7,000 meters had previously been considered.
Rangon and Sariqamish sites
Journalists also asked about the Rangon gas site, which in previous years was described as promising. Oimuhammadzoda said CNPC is also working in this area. The company holds a license for the site, and additional geological studies are ongoing.
Another question concerned Sariqamish, a site where Gazprom previously carried out exploration work. The project had earlier raised expectations because of possible large gas reserves.
According to Oimuhammadzoda, Gazprom drilled a well at Sariqamish to a depth of around 6,450 meters before closing the project. Several productive layers were identified during drilling, he said, but they did not provide enough grounds to confirm industrial oil or gas reserves. As a result, geological work at the site was discontinued.
At present, Oimuhammadzoda said, the main oil and gas exploration work in Tajikistan is linked to CNPC. The company has already conducted gravity, magnetic and seismic surveys. After the data is processed, a site for deep drilling may be selected.
The Main Geology Directorate stressed that the current focus remains on exploration. Tajikistan has not yet confirmed large industrial oil or gas reserves at these sites.
The key conclusions will become clear only after seismic studies are completed, a drilling location is selected and deep wells are drilled.
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