Lukoil Spuds First Well on Tyub-Karagan Block

The first exploration well was has been spudded at the Tyub-Karagan block located in the central part of the Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea.

The well is being drilled by the Astra jackup, with LUKOIL-Shelf of Astrakhan being the drilling contractor.

The main purpose of the first exploration well is discovering hydrocarbon deposits and evaluates their commercial productivity.

The design total depth of the vertical well will be 2,500 meters, with water depth of 7 meters at the drilling site. Drilling will be performed on zero-discharge basis, with all industrial waste recycled. The duration of drilling and testing of the well will be 106 days.

The area of the Tub-Karagan block is over 1,300 square kilometers. Peak production 7 million tons per year and cumulative production 110 million tons. The exploration and production sharing agreement for the block was signed on January 9, 2004. The duration of the PSA is 40 years.