In the vast mudflat on the northeast coast of the Caspian Sea, the special landforms at the land sea border pose a great challenge to oil and gas exploration. This 958 square kilometer Rileioi block has now welcomed a joint operation team. Ha Guoyou and CNOOC are jointly promoting 3D seismic exploration work, and the special coastal location has put forward higher requirements for ecological protection and equipment adaptation. With the deployment of exploration equipment and the steady progress of data collection, this exploration is not only a geological exploration, but also an important step for Chinese oil and gas companies to tap into the upstream market in Central Asia, laying the foundation for subsequent commercial development.

Block foundation

The exploration site for this project is located in the Jireyoi block of the Atyrau Oblast in Kazakhstan, situated along the northeast coast of the Caspian Sea and belonging to the transitional zone between land and sea. The project is coordinated and promoted by the joint establishment of Rileioyi Operation Limited Liability Partnership by both parties, and all funds for the exploration phase are borne by CNOOC. The project is an important part of Kazakhstan's energy development plan, with the core objective of understanding the underground geological conditions of the block and searching for oil and gas resources with commercial value. As the leading domestic integrated oil and gas company in Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan National Oil covers the entire chain of exploration, production, pipeline refining, and represents the core layout direction of the country's oil and gas field.

On-site operations

This 3D seismic exploration covers an area of 400 square kilometers, and uses high-resolution low-frequency controllable seismic sources, cable free seismic receivers and other technical means on site to accelerate the progress of field data acquisition. The coastal area is ecologically sensitive, and the project implements high standard environmental control throughout the entire process, with a large number of specialized equipment to cope with complex working conditions. The geological data formed after collection will be used to evaluate the oil and gas potential of the block, determine the location of the first exploration well, and provide reliable basis for subsequent drilling operations. Keywords: China Kazakhstan energy cooperation, Caspian Sea oil and gas exploration, CNOOC

New Bureau of Cooperation

This project is CNOOC's first oil and gas exploration and development project in Kazakhstan and even throughout Central Asia, marking CNOOC's successful entry into the upstream oil and gas market in Central Asia. Relying on this land sea transition zone exploration target, CNOOC further enriches its global upstream business layout. Based on the long-term cooperation foundation in the energy field, China and Kazakhstan will deepen industrial synergy through this exploration project, tap into the oil and gas potential of the Caspian Sea region, add new support for stable energy trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries, and provide new support for regional energy supply guarantee.Editor/Li Xiaohua