OREANDA-NEWS. July 6, 2009. The first tons of oil were dispatched from Yylakly field in Central Karakum to the Turkmenbashi oil refineries. The subdivisions of Turkmennebit State Concern launched pilot and commercial operation of the deposits, which are located 65 kilometers to the north of the etrap centre Baharly in Ahal Velayat.

Henceforth, Baharly will become an important link in the oil transportation network. Recently, the Baharly oil-loading station was put into operation. The complex includes the pumping station, two reservoirs with the capacity of 2,000 tons each, loading platform and other necessary facilities.

Fuel tankers delivered the first tons of oil extracted in Yylakly to the station. At the station fuel is loaded into oil cars that deliver ‘black gold’ by railway to Baharly. Then oil is transported by railway to the oil station in Belek where it is piped via the oil pipeline network to the Turkmenbashi oil refineries.

The oil station in Baharly is constructed under the investment project aimed at developing the oil and gas bearing areas in Central Karakum financed by the oil and gas enterprises of Turkmenistan. The project on pilot and commercial operation of the deposits designed by the Nebitgazylmytaslama Research Institute provides for exploration of two fields – Yylakly and Mydar.

At the first project stage, which was launched last autumn, the construction divisions of Turkmennebitgazgurlusyk State Concern constructed facilities in Yylakly field. The oil and gas production department Kumdagnebit (the subdivision of Turkmennebit State Concern) is planning to produce up to 130 tons a day in Yylakly. In the future the daily volumes are to be increased up to 150 tons.

In the second half of the year Kumdagneft will start to construct facilities in Mydar field, which is located 140 km to the north of Baharly. During the period of commercial production it is planned to produce up to 350 tons a day.

Along with the increase in oil production in Yylakly and Mydar the140-km pipeline will be built to transport oil from two fields to the oil station in Baharly.

Successful implementation of the investment project in Central Karakum, where the commercial production of oil was started, is a present of oil industry workers for the Turkmen leader, who attaches primary attention to dynamic development of oil and gas industry. During the recent sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers the President focused on the need to accelerate exploration of the newly discovered deposits as a priority task of national oil and gas sector.

Commercial operation of the oil deposits in Central Karakum is a priority aspect of the programme of Turkmennebit State Concern aimed at steadily increasing oil production. This year Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has set the task to oil industry workers to increase oil production up to 10.9 million tons and to achieve the goals of the national programme on oil and gas industry development that will promote steady economic development and people’s welfare.