OREANDA-NEWS. December 15, 2011. In Astana, the enlarged meeting of KMG Group of Companies with participation of Chairman of the Board of JSC “NC “KazMunayGas” Bolat Akchulakov and Managing Director for Exploration and Production of JSC “NC “KazMunayGas” Alika Aydarbaeva where exploration activities for 2011 were summarized and plans for 2012 - 2016 were discussed.

The meeting was attended by members of the geological services of JSC “NC “KazMunayGas” and affiliated organizations, representatives of the scientific community of the country.

It was noted that more than 121 billion tenge for geological exploration, including drilling and seismic exploration, has been directed from 2008 to 2011.

For the period from 2012 to 2016 it is planned to allocate more than 557 billion for geological exploration, including 499 billion for drilling of 435 exploratory wells and 3D seismic exploration in the volume of 12 024 km2.

Introduction of large volumes of drilling, exploratory wells at projects of the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea (“H”, “Zhambyl”, “Satpayev”, “Makhambet”, “Bobek”, etc.). It is also expected to start work on new investment projects (“Abai”, “Issatay”, “Shagala”, “Ustyurt”).

- Importance of strengthening the role of geological services, training of geologic experts, promotion of introducing new geologic-geophysical and geologic field research is hardly to overestimate. We need to strengthen geological monitoring of implementation of geological design solutions in major oil and gas projects in Kazakhstan, - said Bolat Akchulakov.

Chief geologist of JSC “NC “KazMunayGas” Kurmangazy Iskaziyev, General Director of JSC “Kazakh Institute of Oil and Gas” Uzakbay Karabalin, Managing Director on exploration projects of JSC MOC “KazMunayTeniz” Agzam Kudranov, President of the company “Meridian Petroleum” Baltabek Kuandykov and others delivered their reports at the meeting.

Following the meeting it was decided to strengthen research and development activities in geological exploration, to create an analytical and interpretational center to extend laboratory testing of core samples, well surveying to take effective geological and technical measures.