TotalFinaElf (14.28%)* and its partners in the OKIOC Consortium, today announced the successful testing of the Kashagan West 1 well, located on the Kashagan structure in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea.

The well, spudded last year on October 6, was drilled to a total depth of 4,982 metres and encountered an oil bearing interval in the Paleozoic Carbonate below 4,250 metres.

During tests with a 32/64-inch choke, the well flowed at a rate of up to 3,400 barrels of oil per day and 7.6 million cubic feet of gas per day. Oil gravity measured at the well-site ranged between 42 and 45 API degrees.

Kashagan West 1 is the second well drilled by the Consortium and is located 75 kilometres south-east of Atyrau in the north-east sector of the Caspian Sea, approximately 40 kilometres from the discovery well Kashagan East 1.

Following the completion of the Kashagan West 1 well, the Sunkar drilling rig will return to the eastern sector of the Kashagan structure to commence an appraisal drilling campaign.

OKIOC (Offshore Kazakhstan Operating Company), includes subsidiaries of ENI (recently appointed operator), BG, BP, ExxonMobil, Inpex, Phillips Petroleum, Shell, Statoil and TotalFinaElf.

TotalFinaElf points out that the result of this second well on the Kashagan structure is a very positive sign for the Group, which plans to continue its exploration and development policy in a region offering promising prospects. The Group is also present in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea on the Lenkoran (35%), Absheron (20%) and Shah Deniz (10%) permits.

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* Before the purchase of the interests held by BP and Statoil.