ASTRAKHANSKY DUO READY FOR A ROUGH RIDE ON WILDCAT
Upstream, 18.07.2002
Russia's Stroytransgaz–oil (STG-Oil), an affiliate of the country's largest pipeline builder Stroytransgaz, is planning to complete drilling a second exploration well on the North Astrakhansky block by March next year, according to company president Viktor Ott.
STG–Oil is developing the deposit in partnership with Italy's Eni. The company remains cautious about estimating oil and gas reserves in the block but there are expectations of several billion barrels in–place.
The well was spudded on 18 June and has already passed the 500–metre mark. However, STG–Oil is planning to drill to 6500 metres and more complex work lies ahead.
Earlier this year, the company finished drilling its first exploration well to a depth of 7000 metres. STG–Oil is understood to be preparing to test the well, which may be a challenge given high reservoir pressures.
The North Astrakhansky block is believed to belong to the same geological formation that includes the giant onshore Tengiz field and north Caspian Kashagan block.
According to Eni, severe drilling difficulties have already been experienced in the area and the company has had to employ its so–called SDD or lean profile drilling technology to ensure borehole stability.
Vladimir Afanasiev
