Plans for the development of Turkmenistan’s oil and gas industry in 2003 provide for further growth of hydrocarbon production. The target is to raise crude oil output by 50% to 13.5 million tons and gas production by 26% to reach 67.6 billion cubic metres. In line with the Program for Development of the Oil and Gas Industry Turkmenneft state concern will produce 10 million tons of the total volume of crude oil and gas condensate. Foreign companies will produce 2.6 million tons. Turkmengaz state concern and Turkmengeologiya state corporation plan to produce 200,000 tons and 100,000 tons of gas condensate, respectively. An upswing in E&P drilling has to ensure the achievement of the production targets. Appraisal of oil deposits will be performed in the Cheleken, Gundogar Akpatlavuk and Goturdepe formations, which are to serve as the core development areas for hydrocarbon production. Exploration drilling is planned at Korpeje, Gunorta, Gamyshlyja, Akpatlavuk and Goturdepe fields. The plan for 2003 is to drill 40,000 metres of wells, including 19,700 metres of appraisal drilling, 13,800 metres of exploration drilling, and 6500 metres of parametric wells. There are also plans to drill 38 oil wells totalling 110,600 metres, and 46 wells are to be put on production. To implement these objectives there are plans to increase the number of drilling rigs and involve foreign companies.
