Uzbekistan discovers Koratau gas condensate field on Ustyurt plateau

TASHKENT. Oct 5 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan's state oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz has discovered the new Koratau gas condensate field following geological exploration in the Ustyurt region, the company's press service said.

"As a result of exploration in the central part of the Koratau area in the Ustyurt region, natural gas deposits of commercial interest were discovered in deep Jurassic strata," it said.

Exploration well No. 1 was drilled in this area to a depth of 4,860 meters.

"On October 3, during tests, a flow of natural gas and condensate of commercial interest was obtained from the Jurassic strata at the 3,213-3,273 meters, leading to the discovery of the new Koratau gas-condensate field," the press service said.

Uzbekneftegaz plans to finish drilling well 2 in the area by the end of this year and to begin drilling wells 3 and 4.

"The geological results obtained in the Koratau area open up promising new avenues for exploration aimed at studying deep strata in the Ustyurt region," the company said.

Administratively, Koratau is located in the Muynak District of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan.