KazMunayGas: 12 Oilfields Have Incremental Production Potential of 155 Million Tonnes

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 30, KazMunayGas announced arrangements for enhanced oil recovery and resource replenishment at producing oilfields during the KIOGE 2026 conference in Almaty. The company has formulated an enhanced oil recovery strategy for 12 key oilfields, which currently contribute about 90% of its oil production. According to the company's estimates, over the remaining development cycle of the relevant oilfields, the cumulative incremental oil production potential could reach up to approximately 155 million tonnes compared with existing design targets.

The enhanced oil recovery program has already entered specific oilfield applications. KMG is deploying a digital twin project at the East Moldabek oilfield under EmbaMunaiGas in Atyrau Region for reservoir modeling and production management. The company expects that within three years after implementation, the project can increase oil production by approximately 168,000 tonnes and extend the equipment maintenance interval to up to 750 days. The project is part of KMG's implementation projects aimed at enhancing oil recovery and extending stable production cycles for mature producing assets.

In terms of resource replenishment, KMG is currently advancing 23 geological exploration projects, with a combined geological resource base of approximately 4.7 billion tonnes of oil equivalent. The exploration targets are mainly concentrated in deep reservoirs and under-explored areas. Among them, KMG is advancing the Berezovsky project in West Kazakhstan Region with Sinopec, implemented on a 50:50 basis, with the Chinese side providing funding during the exploration phase. According to the 2026 work plan, the project is scheduled to commence approximately 900 line-kilometers of 2D seismic exploration, followed by approximately 300 square kilometers of 3D seismic exploration, and to determine the well location for one ultra-deep exploration well with a designed depth of 7,000 meters.

The Zhylyoi project, cooperated between KMG and CNOOC, is located in the transitional zone of the northeastern Caspian Sea, also adopting a 50:50 model with the Chinese side bearing exploration-phase funding. Currently, the two sides are reprocessing and interpreting 400 line-kilometers of historical 2D seismic data and plan to commence approximately 400 square kilometers of 3D seismic exploration before the end of 2026. The Shygys project, advanced with GEOENERGIJA under the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency, is located in Aktobe Region, with a minimum work program including 500 line-kilometers of 2D seismic exploration and one 3,500-meter exploration well.

Broader exploration work targets the subsalt sequence of the Caspian Basin. KMG's preliminary assessment shows that the resource potential of this area could reach up to approximately 60 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, with plans to conduct approximately 60,000 line-kilometers of seismic exploration. Shell, Chevron, CNOOC, and Sinopec have expressed interest in participating in the study, and KMG is currently negotiating the formation of a relevant exploration consortium. This part is currently at the stage of regional research and consortium preparation.