KHUJAND, August 25, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Exploration of the East Supetau gas field has begun in Asht district, Sughd province, the Sughd energy and industries department head Sodiq Rustamov, told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon.

He says exploration operations are conducted by CJSC Somon Oil in cooperation with JSC Sughd Geo.  “Some 150 engineers and workers are involved in the exploration operation at the East Supetau field,” Rustamov said.

According to some sources, the East Supetay field has possible oil reserves of 20.5 million tons and possible gas reserves of 14.3 billion cubic meters and 56 million U.S. dollars are needed for development of this field.

According to the statistical data from the Sughd regional administration, 8,600 tons of oil and 4.3 million cubic meters of natural have been produced in northern Tajikistan over the first seven months of this year.

In the meantime, Mans Petroleum Corp., Baar, Switzerland, said on July 12, 2011 that a second seismic survey has begun on CJSC Somon Oil Co.’s Chkalovsk and West Supetau licenses in Tajikistan.  The program includes up to 115 line-km on Chkalovsk and up to 659 line-km on West Supetau.  Somon Oil, a 90% owned subsidiary of DWM Petroleum AG, is seeking permits to drill on both licenses.

Somon Oil signed the agreement for Seismic Services with the Tajikistan branch of the Kazakh company, DANK Scientific Industrial Firm ("DANK"), on June 29, 2011. DANK has extensive experience in the hydrocarbon exploration industry performing seismic work in the larger Caspian region.  DANK also performed Somon''s seismic survey in 2010.  This seismic survey is being carried out to improve the quality of the existing prospect data, and hence increase the chances of success of the exploratory wells to be drilled upon completion and interpretation of the new seismic data.  The first well is to spud at the end of the first quarter of 2012.