A hydrocarbon field comparable in scale to the Kashagan oil field could be discovered at significant depths on the Zhylyoi platform, according to Kurmangazy Iskaziyev, first deputy CEO of KazMunayGas (KMG), Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company.
Exploration is expected to target depths of between 5 and 9 kilometers.
Large-scale resource potential
Iskaziyev said the company’s strategic focus is the Zhylyoi carbonate platform and the broader carbonate basin, including Karaton, Kazhygali and Zhylyoi.
He estimated the total resource potential of the massif at about 4.7 billion tons of hydrocarbons, noting that its geological potential is comparable to Kashagan. At the same time, the broader Zhylyoi carbonate massif is estimated to hold up to 20 billion tons of oil equivalent.
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Unlike Kashagan, which is located offshore and requires substantial capital investment, the Zhylyoi structure is on land, which could significantly reduce development costs.
Untapped presalt potential
Despite extensive exploration in the region, Iskaziyev said presalt deposits along the northern and eastern edges of the Caspian basin remain underexplored.
Long-term exploration plans
KMG has been conducting preparatory work on the Zhylyoi platform for about a decade. The geological structure extends from Karaton and Kazhygali through the Zhylyoi block to Kairan and is sealed from neighboring formations by a layer of clay.
The massif lies beneath areas associated with existing major fields, including Tengiz oil field.
Deep drilling strategy
Iskaziyev said the company plans to drill exploratory wells in the most elevated parts of the Pre-Caspian basin.
He added that Chinese partner companies are already drilling wells in China to depths of up to 11 kilometers, with production wells reaching around 9 kilometers, demonstrating the technical feasibility of such projects.
