Volume of 2D-seismisity in western and central parts of contract area totaled 2,005 running kilometer, the company’s Tashkent office told Trend Capital. Over 2,330 running seismic kilometers, including 450 kilometers - offshore, 310 kilometers - transit zone, 1,540 kilometers - onshore were explored given operations of 2007. “We received a qualitative seismic material to estimate oil-and-gas content of Aralomorsk region from a new point of view,” the office said.

Entire field material was worked out on principles of standard working out, temporary migration to summation and AVO. A version was made on worked out material. As a result, the most prospective regions were indicated for search of hydrocarbons. Western Aral structure was prepared to drill. Presently, exact coordinates of the first exploring well are being agreed and approved. Drilling program is being worked out.

It is planned to begin drilling in the fourth quarter of 2009, the office said. Drilling will begin after tender on drilling contractor completes. At the same time, seismic research in the eastern part of the Aral Sea to drill on prospective structures will continue.

Production Share Agreement (PSA) on Aral project was signed in August 2006 by the Uzbek government and investors consortium as part of Uzbekneftegas national holding company, Lukoil Overseas, CNPC International (China), Korea National Oil Corporation (Korea) and Petronas Carigali Overseas (Malaysia). Operating company of the project is Aral Sea Operating Company (legal entity of Uzbekistan). General contractor of seismic-prospecting operations is Petro Alliance Russian company.

The consortium will conduct seismic-prospecting operations on more than 2,000 square kilometers area at the first stage. This stage will cost US$99.8 million. Multiversion TEB is supposed to be worked out by further agreement of commercial terms of PSA as a result of first three years. Moreover, a program on geological exploration operations of the second stage, tax rate and payments will be worked out. The second stage envisages drilling of prospecting wells. It will require no less than US$200 million investments. Extraction of fields will launch at the third stage which term is not scheduled.

Term of PSA is 35 years. The Uzbek government will own more than 50 percent of extracted production, the rest participants of consortium - 10 percent.

Over 30 anomalies identified with oil and gas prospective facilities are possible to occur within the Aral Sea (12,500 square meter area), Uzbekneftegas national holding company said.