BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Tajikistan plans
to begin drilling a super-deep exploratory well in early 2027 as
part of the Bokhtar oil and gas project with China's CNPC, with the
planned well expected to reach a depth of up to 7,000 meters.
This was reflected in the statement by the Ministry of Energy
and Water Resources of Tajikistan.
The latest developments were discussed during a meeting of the
Bokhtar Project Management Committee held in Hangzhou, China, from
September 25 to 27. The Tajik delegation included Deputy Minister
of Energy and Water Resources Sharifa Khudobakhsh, representatives
of the Executive Office of the President, and officials from
relevant ministries and agencies.
The Bokhtar project is being implemented under a
production-sharing agreement between the Tajik government and CNPC
Central Asia B.V. The Chinese company is conducting geological and
geophysical exploration aimed at identifying commercially viable
oil and gas structures in southwestern Tajikistan.
The committee reviewed plans for further geophysical exploration
in southern Tajikistan and the fulfillment of obligations under the
production-sharing agreement.
According to the plan, the company is expected to determine the
location of an exploratory well in 2026. Specialists are currently
completing the processing of seismic survey data to identify the
most promising drilling site.
"The planned exploratory well could reach a depth of up to 7,000
meters, with drilling expected to begin in early 2027," Tajik
authorities said.
Tajik representatives also visited a CNPC Central Asia
laboratory in Hangzhou, where samples collected from underground
formations are analyzed to determine their chemical composition.
The results are considered important for selecting the optimal
location for the exploratory well.
Trend's analysis
shows that the planned drilling represents a significant shift from
preliminary geological exploration toward a stage where the
commercial potential of the Bokhtar project can be tested directly.
The 7,000-meter target depth also indicates that the project is
focused on geological structures that require substantial
investment and advanced drilling capabilities to evaluate.
Trend's calculations show that the planned well would be
approximately 7 kilometers deep, making the project technically
demanding and potentially increasing both the cost and risk
associated with exploration. At the same time, successful drilling
could provide significantly more reliable information on the size
and quality of any hydrocarbon resources than surface and seismic
surveys alone.
For Tajikistan, the project carries particular importance
because the country remains dependent on imported fuel. A
commercially viable domestic oil or gas discovery could eventually
reduce import requirements, improve the country's energy trade
balance and provide an additional source of fiscal and export
revenues.
However, the planned drilling should not yet be interpreted as
evidence that Tajikistan has confirmed commercially recoverable
reserves. The geological data currently being processed can
identify promising structures, but only exploratory drilling and
subsequent testing can establish whether those structures contain
hydrocarbons in economically viable quantities.
In Trend's assessment, the early 2027 drilling campaign will be
a key test of the long-running Bokhtar project. If commercially
viable reserves are confirmed, the project could become an
important component of Tajikistan's efforts to strengthen domestic
energy security and reduce exposure to imported fuel. Until
drilling results are available, however, the project's economic
impact remains contingent on the discovery and commercial
development of recoverable resources.
The project is focused on discovering new oil and gas deposits,
but Tajikistan has not yet confirmed commercially recoverable
reserves at the depths under investigation. The actual resource
potential of the area can only be assessed after exploratory
drilling is completed. The Bokhtar project covers areas in
southwestern Tajikistan, where geological and seismic exploration
has been underway. Gravity and magnetic geophysical surveys have
already been conducted, while seismic exploration at the company's
licensed blocks began in 2025.
If commercially viable oil or gas reserves are discovered,
domestic production could help Tajikistan reduce its dependence on
imported fuel and strengthen its energy security.
