Dragon Turkmen development on schedule

Offshore staff

ASHKABAD, Turkmenistan -- Dragon Oil has completed two more development wells and one sidetrack in its Cheleken Contract Area program in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea.

The Dzheitune (Lam) 13/144 well was drilled to 3,434 m (11,266 ft) on a single completion basis by Rig 40, testing at an initial rate of 1,809 b/d of oil. Rig 40 will now be cold-stacked on the Dzheitune (Lam) 13 platform, but could be re-deployed for further workovers in future years.

Dzheitune (Lam) 28/146 was drilled to 3,200 m (10,498 ft) on a single completion basis by the NIS rig, testing an initial 2,311 b/d of oil. This was the first of a series of development wells the rig is scheduled to drill from the Dzheitune (Lam) 28 platform. NIS has since skidded to the next slot on the platform to spud well Dzheitune (Lam) 28/147l.

Dragon adds that the Iran Khazar rig has completed a sidetrack of the Dzheitune (Lam) A/129 well, which was drilled to 1,815 m (5,955 ft) on a single completion basis, and which has yielded incremental production of 1,140 b/d of oil.

With the planned workover program for this year now concluded, the Iran Khazar has since moved to the Dzheitune (Lam) B platform from which it will spud the Dzheitune (Lam) B/148 well, following routine maintenance.

Dragon has brought six new development wells on line this year, and is targeting a further five by year-end.

07/20/2010