National company QazaqGaz has formalized a tripartite subsoil use agreement with CNPC-AktobeMunaiGas and the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan for the Severnyi-1 block situated in Aktobe region. The contract, valued at KZT3.5 billion, establishes the consortium's legal framework for pursuing exploration activities across the prospective acreage, which preliminary geological assessments indicate holds material potential for new hydrocarbon discoveries.
The exploration program agreed under the contract specifies a phased approach beginning with comprehensive seismic acquisition. The consortium will execute both two-dimensional and three-dimensional seismic surveys to refine subsurface imaging and identify optimal drilling targets within the block. Following seismic interpretation, the partners will proceed with the drilling of both independent exploratory wells designed to test primary targets and contingent wells positioned to follow up positive shows encountered during the initial drilling phase.
Environmental stewardship and operational safety constitute binding commitments under the contract terms. QazaqGaz and CNPC-AktobeMunaiGas have pledged to conduct all exploration and drilling activities in strict conformity with state-of-the-art ecological standards and industrial safety requirements applicable to subsoil operations in Kazakhstan. These provisions reflect growing regulatory expectations for upstream operators to demonstrate rigorous HSE performance as a condition for maintaining license integrity.
This contract arrives as QazaqGaz consolidates its expanding position within Kazakhstan's upstream sector. Prior to the Severnyi-1 agreement, QazaqGaz was formally designated as the unified operator for the Karachaganak Gas Processing Plant project, a major integrated gas development that represents one of Kazakhstan's most significant hydrocarbon assets. The sequential accumulation of operator responsibilities across both exploration acreage and processing infrastructure signals the national company's transition from a midstream-focused entity toward a comprehensive upstream portfolio manager under state direction.