Uzbekistan steps up exploration to steady gas production trend

According to the minister, the situation in the sector remains “difficult” due to the “natural depletion” of hydrocarbon reserves.

“One of the most pressing issues is hydrocarbon extraction. Despite the work under way, the fact is that 85 percent of our fields are depleted, and the production rate and pressure in these fields are falling sharply year after year,” Mirzamakhmudov said.

He noted that, following a presidential directive, additional personnel and financial resources have been allocated to conduct geological exploration in promising areas.

“As a result, a new field has been discovered in the Ustyurt region of Karakalpakstan, in Muynak district. Most importantly, we have already connected this field to the system, and by linking two wells we have created the capacity to produce an additional 3 million cubic meters of gas per day,” the minister said.

He added that seven more wells are planned for drilling by year-end, with preparations under way to bring in and install the pipelines. Geological exploration has begun in cooperation with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR, while Uzbekneftegaz continues work on its own projects.

“We hope that next year, through the commissioning of new fields, we will be able to stabilize the trend of a sharp decline in gas production,” Mirzamakhmudov said.