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Location
The Kumkol field is located in the
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South Turgai Basin, and is limited
by the following geographic
coordinates: 460 25' to 460 34'
northern latitude and 650 30' to
650 43' eastern longitude. The
Kumkol field is located in the
Dzhezdy district of the
Zhezkazgan Region of Central
Kazakhstan, about 190 kilometres
north of the regional capital city of
Kyzylorda.
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The Kumkol Field is located in a desert/steppe environment that supports livestock
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grazing but not the cultivation of food crops. The climate is dry extreme continental
with average precipitation of 10 to 15 centimetres per year. Seasonal temperature
variation is large. Maximum summer temperatures reach +470C (in shadow), while
minimum winter temperatures fall to –300C. The Average temperature in the
summer is + 300C, while in winter the average temperature is -150C. There are no
rivers or lakes in the region which carry water all year round. Drainage in the area is
limited to runoff from rain and snow. The Kyzylorda Hydrogeological Expedition has
drilled a number of artesian wells in the area in order to provide water for livestock.
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Infrastructure
Kumkol crude is processed at a central facility located at the south-east end of the
Kumkol field. The crude is then sent to the Shymkent refinery through a lateral
pipeline connecting to the central Asia and Middle Kazakhstan pipeline at Karakoin.
Approximately half of the road between Kyzylorda and the Kumkol field is paved and
the remainder is covered with gravel.
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Field Development History
The Kumkol oil field was discovered in
1984 through exploration drilling, based
on previous seismic activity. The field
was initially put on production in 1990.
Initial flow rates were in the range of 50
to 110 tonnes (60 to 130 m3) per day with
some wells actually flowing at 130
tonnes (160 m3) per day for a short
period of time. Due to a lack of pressure
support from the underlying aquifer, the
field was put on a flank water source
wells. In 1994 the field was converted to
a central water injection scheme with
inverted 9 spot injection patterns.
Currently, Kumkol oilfield voidage
replacement is under balanced and
average well rates are declining for both
injectors and producers. The field is
developed as 4 separate Objects. Each
Object has its own individual reservoir
characteristics resulting in variations in
fluid properties, recovery factors, and
depletion stage.
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Geophysical
Kazakhstani geophisicists frequently used aeromagnetic, gravity and electrical
surveys. The magnetic survey of the South Kumkol Turgai Basin was initiated in
1937. A number of magnetic anomalies were indentified. These formed the basis for
follow-up seismic activity. The first boreholes were drilled in 1940.
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Inspection of seismic coverage charts revealed a large number of long regional
reconnaissance lines which were followed up in many areas with a 4 by 4 kilometre
grid for more detail. When a promising structure was located, infilll acqisition used a
1 by 1 kilometre grid. As a result of the numerous surveys, the area is presently
covered by a dense grid for a total of some 12.000 line kilometres.
Equipment employed by the Kazakhstanis permitted recorded data to be transferred
from floating points digital to half inch tape in a format that is compatible with
modern processing centre. However, no computers or filters are used. Field
systems could be upgraded to improve the high sampling frequency and the
number of operating channels which in turn increases the number of common
depth point samples.
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The field was developed in four phases: Phases I through III developed the
southern part of the field. Field ownership is divided into northern and southern
halves. The southern part of the Kumkol field, which is 100% owned by HKM, is fully
developed and currently has a reported 195 producing wells in operation. The
northern part of the field, which is part of a 50:50 joint venture between HKM and
LUKoil, has been well delineated by exploration drilling, well production testing and
seismic investigations. Phase IV, initiated in 1995, started the development of the
northern part of the field.
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