Baku, Fineko/abc.az. In June 2012 the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) reduced drilling by 40.1% versus May when it declined by 8.3% compared to April.

The SOCAR informs that if not to take into account drilling operations by joint ventures (JVs) and operating companies (OCs) it was drilled 7.808 m in June versus 13.041 m in May, 14,220 m in April, 15,415 m in March, 11,132 m in February, 10,739 m in January and 14,866 m in September 2011 (last year’s best indicator). The volume of drilling in February 2010 (12,890 m) was the best index of 2010, and 17,399 m in April of 2009 was the best index over the last few years. At that, this June development drilling made up 7.168 m and exploration drilling 640 m and wildcat drilling 454 m.

"For Jan-June 2012 it was carried out 72.355 m of drilling works, including 69.351 m of development and 3.004 m of exploration drilling (1,650 m of wildcat drilling)," it was reported.

The Company has not published its plans for 2012, but in 2011 its drilling works totaled 147,287 m, including 133,343 m of development and 13,944 m of exploration drilling (including 2,550 m of wildcat drilling).

Drilling for 2010 totaled 136,324 m against 168,182 m for 2009 and 202,954 m for 2008.

In 2010, development drilling totaled 127,858 m, exploration drilling 8,466 m (including 1,785 m of wildcat drilling) versus 160,326 m of development and 7,856 m of exploration drilling in 2009.

According to SOCAR vice president Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh , this year they are planning to drill 280,000 m against 270,000 m in 2011.

04.07.2012 17:06