Lukoil Uzbekistan operates Lukoil’s projects in Uzbekistan, Prime-Tass reported.

Lukoil carried out three-dimensional (3-D) seismic exploration at the Yuzhny Kyzylbairak and Adamtash fields in the Southwest Gissar area in 2008. The 3-D seismic data enables the company to start drilling exploration wells at the fields.

In 2008, the number of wells at the Yuzhny Kyzylbairak and Koshkuduk fields in the Southwest Gissar area increased to six from three. The combined yield of the wells rose to 65 tonnes of oil per day from 22 tonnes per day.

The Southwest Gissar area in southern Uzbekistan includes seven fields with about 100 billion cubic meters of gas reserves and about 6 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate.

Lukoil also has a 5-year license to explore two blocks in the Ustyurt area in northwest Uzbekistan.

Total investment in the project is estimated at US$700 million, of which about US$130 million has already been invested. Lukoil plans to invest US$116 million in the project this year.

In March 2008, Lukoil purchased a group of companies that develops oil and gas fields in the Southwest Gissar and Ustyurt regions under a 36-year production sharing agreement with the Uzbek government.