Output still climbing from Cheleken fields

Offshore staff

ASHKABAD, Turkmenistan --Gross oil production from the Cheleken Area fields off Turkmenistan reached 43,787 b/d in the first quarter of this year, according to operator Dragon Oil. This represents a 19% increase over the corresponding period in 2008.

Two rigs are currently completing two more development wells – Dzeheitune (Lam) 13/33A and 28/134. Both should come onstream next month, and the company hopes to complete a total of eight wells this year.

Recently, Dragon extended the contract of one of the rigs, the jackupIran Khazar, and it expects to award a contract for another platform-based rig shortly. Later this year it may contract another jackup on a part-time basis.

In March the company resumed sales of crude oil via Baku after agreeing a new crude oil marketing contract. It is assessing further routes to market, including Makhachkala in Russia and the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.

04/28/2009