Dauletabad gas field

Dauletabad gas field
Country	Turkmenistan
Region	Amu-Darya Basin
Location	Ahal Province
Offshore/onshore	onshore
Operator(s)	Türkmengaz
Field history
Discovery	1974
Start of production	1982
Production
Recoverable gas	25,000 billion cubic feet (710×10^9 m3)
Producing formations	Hauterivian stage Early Cretaceous red sandstone reservoir of the Shatlyk horizon

The Dauletabad Gas Field (also Döwletabat, Dauletabad-Donmez, and until 1991 known as Sovietabad) is a large natural gas field located in the Amu-Darya Basin, Ahal province, Turkmenistan. It is located in the vicinity of the Turkmenistan–Iran border, and is named after the Dowlatabad settlement across the border in Iran.^[1] The field is a part of the Amu-Darya oil-gas province.^[1]

History

The Dauletabad structural feature was detected during geological surveys in 1957–1960. The Dauletabad arch was confirmed by seismic surveys in 1968. The exploratory wells confirming existence of natural gas reserves were drilled in 1972–1974.^[1] Production started at the Dauletabad field in 1982.^[2][3]

After the independence of Turkmenistan, production declined significantly, but increased again after 1998. The gas is exported via the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline system. Starting from December 2009, gas is supplied also to Iran through the Dauletabad–Salyp Yar pipeline.^[4]

Reserves

Before production started in 1982, recoverable reserves of natural gas were estimated about 60 trillion cubic feet (1.7×10^¹² m³).^[2] In 1992, its estimated recoverable reserves were 48.7 trillion cubic feet (1.38×10^¹² m³) of natural gas.^[1] In 1997, the United States independent consultancy DeGolyer and McNaughton certified recoverable reserves at about 25 trillion cubic feet (710×10^⁹ m³).^[2] In 2005, the Asian Development Bank estimated gross reserves 49.5 trillion cubic feet (1.40×10^¹² m³).^[5]

It was considered to be the largest gas field in Turkmenistan until thorough evaluation of reserves at a newly discovered Yolotan field were made public.^[6]

The Dauletabad field has been cited as a possible supply source for the Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, but according to the Asian Development Bank, the field's production forecasts are "lower than expected" and that "production is predicted to decline."^[5]

See also

• Dauletabad–Salyp Yar pipeline
• Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline
• Bagtyýarlyk contractual territory
• Ýolöten Gas Field
• Saman-Depe Gas Field

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Clarke, James W.; Kleshchev, Konstantin (1992). "Dauletabad-Donmez Field — Commonwealth of Independent States (Former USSR), Amu-Dar'ya Basin, Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan" (PDF). AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology (American Association of Petroleum Geologists) Stratigraphic Traps III: 285–300. (subscription required). http://search.datapages.com/data/specpubs/fieldst4/images/a025/a0250001/0250/02850.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Turkmenistan's Producers - The Gas Sector". APS Review Gas Market Trends (Entrepreneur Media, Inc.). 2008-09-22. http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/185436436.html. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
3. ^ Yoon Sung-hak (March 2009) (PDF). Strategic Opportunities for South Korean Development of Energy Resources in Central Asia. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. p. 11. http://uskoreainstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/USKI_WP0902.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
4. ^ "Iran-Turkmenistan gas pipeline inauguration slated for late Dec.". Tehran Times. 2009-08-15. http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=200961. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Gill, Ian (October 2005). "Gas Pipeline Race". Asian Development Bank. http://www.adb.org/Documents/Periodicals/ADB_Review/2005/vol37-5/gas-pipeline.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
6. ^ Pannier, Bruce (2008-10-14). "Independent Audit Shows Turkmen Gas Field 'World-Class'". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. http://www.rferl.org/content/Independent_Audit_Shows_Turkmen_Gas_Field_WorldClass_/1329822.html. Retrieved 2010-01-07.