Rosneft Delays Caspian Well

摘要

Russia's Rosneft has decided not to drill another well this year on the Kurmangazy field in the Caspian Sea. A Rosneft representative says drilling could resume next year. The state-controlled firm has drilled two dry holes in the acreage - in 2006 and in 2009 - and in June its president, Sergei Bogdanchikov, had said a third well would be spudded this year (IOD Jun.23,p3). Kurmangazy, which lies on the maritime border between Russia and Kazakhstan, is operated 50-50 by Rosneft and state Kazmunaigas. Rosneft insiders claim the Kazakhs have been pushing for more exploration, while the Russian firm harbors doubts about Kurmangazy's reserves.