The oil potential of the Alay Basin is estimated at 2–4 billion tonnes

A working group led by Samsala Chetimbayev, Chairman of the Board of OJSC ‘Kyrgyzneftegaz’, visited the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of the Chinese company Sinopec.

During the visit, the delegation took part in an international conference on oil and gas engineering technologies held in Beijing, where it familiarised itself with new technologies in the oil and gas sector, modern drilling methods and cutting-edge geophysical survey techniques used in global practice.

During the conference, Samsala Chetimbayev, Chairman of the Board of OJSC ‘Kyrgyzneftegaz’, met with Sinopec’s senior management to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

In addition, the Kyrgyz delegation took part in a Sinopec seminar on geophysical technologies, held in Nanjing. During the seminar, information was presented on modern geophysical technologies and new methods for the study and exploration of oil and gas fields.

In total, there are 19 intermountain basins within the Kyrgyz Republic. Among these, the Alay Basin is regarded as one of the most promising areas for the search for oil and gas resources and the conduct of geological exploration work.

Specialists from Sinopec examined the available geological and geophysical data on the Alay Basin and presented their proposals for the application of modern technologies to assess the basin’s oil and gas potential. The company has also expressed an interest in cooperating with Kyrgyzneftegaz OJSC on geological exploration work in the Alay Valley.

According to preliminary estimates, the oil potential of the Alay Basin could range from 2 to 4 billion tonnes. This figure is a preliminary estimate, and further comprehensive geological and geophysical studies are required to determine its exact volume.

Following the visit, Samsaly Chetimbayev, Chairman of the Board of OJSC ‘Kyrgyzneftegaz’, and Zhang Yu, Chief Executive Officer of Sinopec Geophysical Corporation, signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing bilateral cooperation.