Chinese energy giant Sinopec has commenced drilling operations on the C-1 exploration well in the Sai-Utes area of western Kazakhstan, marking a key phase in the region’s geological exploration campaign. The well, projected to reach a depth of 5,500 meters, will serve as a cornerstone for evaluating the area’s hydrocarbon potential.
The drilling project follows two years of intensive preparatory work, including over 1,000 km of seismic surveys, and will cost approximately 4.7 billion tenge (around $10 million), according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy.
During the pre-drill phase, Sinopec identified six potential hydrocarbon traps from the Carboniferous period and outlined two drill sites with estimated depths exceeding 5,000 meters. Officials stated that initial assessments of the site’s prospective resources are promising.
This initiative comes alongside broader Chinese-Kazakh energy cooperation. In a related development, KazMunayGas and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) recently signed a 50/50 joint venture deal for exploration and production at the Zhylyoi field, which could hold over 185 million tonnes of oil, according to preliminary KazMunayGas estimates.
