Extensive geological exploration activities in Uzbekistan's Ustyurt region have reached a significant operational milestone following the completion of comprehensive field surveys. A massive 3D seismic survey covering an area of 3,300 square kilometers has been successfully finalized, with the raw geological data now handed over to the Australian technology firm DUG for advanced processing and interpretation. This technical initiative is designed to pinpoint the most promising geological structures for subsequent hydrocarbon exploration in the remote desert terrain.
Key Takeaways: A 3D seismic survey spanning 3,300 square kilometers has been completed on the Ustyurt plateau, with Australia's DUG processing the data. The project operates under a Production Sharing Agreement involving SOCAR, Uzbekneftegaz, Uzbekistan's Energy Ministry, and British petroleum major BP. The regional potential is estimated at 100 million tons of oil and 35 billion cubic meters of gas, with total investments projected near 2 billion dollars.
The fieldwork was executed by the Ustyurt Operating Company (UOC), which managed to complete the demanding campaign within tight operational schedules while maintaining rigorous quality standards. According to project representatives, the seismic acquisition ranks among the most technologically sophisticated endeavors in Central Asia, driven by high-density observation parameters. The subsequent data analysis will refine the regional subsurface architecture and precisely locate prospective drilling sites across six designated investment blocks: Boyterak, Terengquduk, Birgori, Kharoy, Karakalpak, and Kulboy.
The foundational framework for this venture was established in July 2025, when Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR, Uzbekneftegaz, and the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan formally executed a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). Subsequently, British multinational BP acquired a 40 percent participating interest in the project, securing a 20 percent stake from each of the initial regional partners. Under the statutory terms of the PSA, investors were mandated to conduct 3D seismic mapping over at least 1,000 square kilometers within a five-year window; however, the actual completed scope has vastly exceeded these baseline commitments.
Industry experts evaluate Ustyurt's hydrocarbon potential at roughly 100 million tons of oil and 35 billion cubic meters of natural gas, supporting total projected investments reaching approximately 2 billion US dollars. Should commercial quantities of oil and gas be verified through forthcoming exploratory drilling, the consortium will transition toward field development and commercial extraction planning. This latest milestone follows earlier successful exploration efforts in the Muynak district of Karakalpakstan, where the new Karatau gas condensate field was recently discovered.
Source: podrobno.uz