People has kept a legend «About holy lights» in Auketai-Shagyla region (interfluves of Ural and Volga) that coincided with coming out of inflammable gases as it emerged later. In 19th century famous religious figure and healer Matenkozha healed mange of cattle and skin diseases of humans by means of black oil that came out of sands of downstream Oiyl River. There is a reference of travelers that trade caravans ensuing from China to India along Ancient Silk Road used accumulation of black oil in Karamai stow in Zaisan hollow for lubrication of their wagon’s wheels.
Tsarist Russia began to pay careful attention to vast territory of Kazakhstan at the end of 16th century and during 17th century sending regularly detachments of merchants, military plotters and natural scientists with the aim of fortification of empire’s eastern borders, search for trade routes to southern countries. First data on oil evidence in Atyrau region was discovered in notes of Bekovich-Cherkasskiy who had arranged a military-plotter expedition to Khiva through downstream Emba River by order of Peter the First, and later in published report of geographer N. Severtsev in 1869. (Sh. Yessenov et al., 1968).
There are some data on geology and mineral resources of Western Kazakhstan – coal, oil, combustible shale and mineral substances in the reports of scientific expedition arranged in 1768 (S. Gmelin, I. Lepekhin, P. Pallas). Mining engineer of Geologic Committee of Russia D. Kirpichnikov who had examined oil shows in Karashungul, Dossor and Imankara in 1874, wrote: «There is no doubt that there is heavy accumulation of oil, it is very hard to use this wealth because there is no fresh water, communication routes to residential places, no meadows and steppes around that might be suitable for hayfields».
Grigoriy Silych Karelin, one of the most educated people of his time, visited western part of Kazakh steppe in 1827 where he conducted typographic plotting, studied flora and fauna of this land. Here he met Zhangir-khan, son of Bukei- khan. G.S. Karelin made a strong impression on Zhangir-khan and he offered him to serve as his advisor. In 1832 Karelin was appointed as head of big expedition to study north-eastern part of Caspian Sea. In introduction to expedition log he wrote: «North-eastern shores of Caspian Sea have been never observed with attention that they deserve thanks to their geographic location. Fairly few of sailors casually stopped by these desolate places. Not a single naturalists visited shores interposed between Gurjev and Old Mangyshlak lasting more than 900 vertsts. It is a great and important area because it adheres to lands serving as a key to our future trade and political relations with Central Asia» (Proceedings of Russian Geographic society on general geography, 1883, v. 10, p. 5).
Special attention of researchers of Western Kazakhstan was directed to Mangystau peninsula. Surveying started in 1846 when expedition on Mangystau peninsula of M.I. Ivanov discovered first evidences of oil show. In 1887, geologists N.I. Andrusov and M.V. Bayarunas proceeded with route sketching (M.A. Mirzoev «Mangistau: voices of centuries», Alma-Ata, «Kazakhstan» ed., 1994).
In 1851-1853 studies of Bozashi peninsula continued. Expedition materials were published in Herald of Russian Geographic society in 1885. These works contain a detailed description of relief, hydrographics, vegetative cover, and geological review, characteristics of ground waters, soil and climate of Ustyurt, Mangystau and Bozashi peninsulas. Research of special expedition sent in 1892 in Western Kazakhstan headed by geologist S. Nikitin and aimed at surveying outlined routes of railroad in Turkestan and studying of natural resources of the land had significant importance for purposeful geologic study and discover of oil wealth of the region. In the course of exploration of oil shows the expedition for the first time used manual drilling rig. At the same time intensive search for fresh water, and later - phosphorites and carbons were held.
Determined and positively assessed by S. Nikitin’s expedition oil shows in Karashungul, Dossor and Yeskene attracted attention of oil society of that time. As early as in 1892 first applications of entrepreneurs willing to explore some sites of Dossor appeared. Soon numerous societies, partnerships and firms were established for oil exploration in Ural-Emba and other regions of Western Kazakhstan. The largest one among them were Ural-Caspian Oil Society (UEOS), «Emba-Caspiy», «Partnership of Nobel brothers», «Emby», «Ural Oil» and etc.
In 1894 group of Saint-Petersburg entrepreneurs got concession for exploration of oil deposits. First oil exploration objects were Dossor, Karaton, Karashungul and Yeskene. S. Leman’s company that got concession of «Emba-Caspiy» society drilled 21 wells with depth of 38 to 275 meters in Karashungul. In November of 1899, here, in oil wellsite #7, a fountain of light oil was obtained at depth of 40 meters from gypsified ground of sinkhole air hole. This event is fairly considered to be the beginning of oil exploration on Kazakhs’ ancient land. In 1906-1909 non-industrial flows of oil were detected in wellsites 3 and 4 from upper cretaceous deposits in Karaton. In 1910 S.Leman’s company attracted funds from English entrepreneurs into «Ural-Caspiy» society and arranged a deep drilling in Dossor. On April 29, 1911 a forceful oil fountain was obtained in Dossor well site # 3 that taped Middle Jurassic deposits at depth of 225-226 meters. Well site was blowing out during 30 hours and gave 16 700 poods of oil.
It is said in Review of Ural region for 1913 (Appendix to military governor’s report): «…Explorations that began long ago in Gurjev district of Ural region were successful. Ural-Caspiy Oil Society was assigned 5 sites of 10 tithes each in Dossor, 1 site of 10 tithes in Makat locality, and 1 site of 10 tithes in Yeskene. By January 1, 1914 there were 29 sites designated for oil extraction in various localities of Gurjiev district. In 1913 Ural-Caspiy Oil Society in Dossor produced 4 450 615 poods of oil«. («Review of Ural region for 1913. Appendix to military governor’s report», State archives of Western-Kazakhstan region, Archive library). In 1900-1917 along with Emba region exploration embraced interfluves of Ural and Volga (Novobogatinsk, Chernaya Rechka), western Predmugodzharje (Mortyk, Itassai), central part of Caspian Sea region (Matenkozha) and Aktobinskoe Transurals region (Zhusa). There were 20 structure and territories involved in exploration where 166 exploration and 177 exploitation wells were drilled. Exploration works were conducted in Makat, Nothern Yerkene and number of other territories.
There were 7 wells drilled in Nothern Yeskene, 19 –in Karashungul. Dossor has 32 exploration and 100 exploitation wells drilled with cumulative drift of more than 30 thousands l.m., and Makat had 12 wells (5800 l.m.). In 1915 test exploitation of Makat began. Industrial oil was obtained from Jurassic deposits, from one of wells oil flowed for 18,5 hours having blown 250 tons of oil. N. Leman’s Company drilled 20 exploration wells in Karaton. Oil was discovered in almost all of them from which 8 to 160 tons oil per day were pumped out. In 1912 exploration works began in Novobogatinsk where 23 wells (6 195 l.m.) were drilled. In 1913 drilling and completion initiated in the territories of Chernaya Rechka, Bleuli, Zhangelgy, in 1917 – Imankara, Dongeleksor, Zhaltyr. At the beginning oil was extracted by flush method, afterwards, as wells-spring depleted, oil was pumped from a dinge built at well mouth, by means of bailing-up. This primitive method had been used in Emba more than 20 years. «Emba» oil and trade joint-stock company (1911-1919) that had been established by government act of April 10, 1912, played particular role in the history of oil extraction. Founding shareholders were state-counselor in office E.L. Nobel, state-counselor T.B. Belozerskiy and hereditary honorary citizen I.I. Stakheev (CSA of RoK, reserve 681, inventory 1, case 13). All financial operations of oil joint-stock company were carried out though Russian-Asian bank.
In report «Ural-Emba region and perspectives of its development» presented at the meeting of Supreme Council of National Economy (SCNE) in 1924 it was stated that «… two fields – Dossor and Makat are threshold of the whole oil industry of the region».
Purposeful exploration of oil fields was performed in 1924-1927. Eventually, six prospective zones were defined:
- «Dossor», which included all oil fields located in Sagiz river estuary, gas fields to the north of this group, the most north field Maten-Kozha, as well as two commercial fields, - Dossor and Makat.
- «South Zone» – all fields lying to the south of Emba River, as well as fields in downstream of the river. There are such fields as Karaton, Karasgungul, Star-Tyube, Munaily, Kosshagyl, Dzhilan-Basta and etc.
- «Novobogatinsk zone» – fields located to the west of Ural River, along Caspian Sea coastline (Novobogatinsk and Chernaya Rechka fields). Moreover since before the revolution, exploration drilling of Nobel brothers’ firm got flush of 60 000 pood of light oil.
- «Iman-Karin zone» – group of fields in the area of Iman-Kara. There are such fields as Imankara, Koikara, Kyzylkul, Dzhusalysai, and Kulzhan, as well as Zhylankabak, Karamurat, Ushakskie kupola and Chuban-Tame.
- «Terskakan zone» – fields adjacent to upstream Sagiz River and middle rich of Emba River. Number of fields is about 15. The district is poorly-explored.
- «Temir zone» that refers to such fields as Dzhan-Agach, Keikabas, Isatai, Mortuk, Kursai and etc. Ural-Emba region bears rich potential opportunities and will give in the future an opportunity to produce significant amount of oil».
In 1915 oil extraction was performed already from well 105 in Makat field that had become a sort of testing site for oil related research – mode of occurrence and reservoir structure and formation. In 1916 in Zhusa structure «Nobel brothers» partnership drilled two wells with depth of 238 meters and 132 meters. Salt that had been discovered here allowed comparing Zhusa oil show with Ural-Emba region fields. The issue of wide industrial exploration of Ural-Emba region was raised by V.I. Lenin in 1920 soon after liberation of this region from White Guards. Upon his initiative construction of Alexandrov Gai –Emba railroad was launched to connect distant and desolate Emba region with center of country. Railroad construction was a necessary prerequisite to create and widely develop a powerful oil industry (B. Sagingaliev, History of «Big Emba», Almaty, «Olke», 2002). In 1920s it seemed that oil extraction could not be decisive in industrial development of Ural region. In chapter «Mineral resources» of «Introduction to brief work schedule of Ural governorate land detachment for 1922-23 operating year», among other things it was noted that «Ural governorate is not rich for mineral resources. Amongst them oil and salt have commercial significance. Oil lands are located in East and part of them in South-West of the governorate nearby Caspian Sea. In 1914, the best year for our oil industry, Ural governorate produced 16 654 700 poods of oil that accounts for 1/34 part of oil extraction in Russia and 1/224 part of world oil extraction» (State archives of Western-Kazakhstan region, reserve 24, case 101).
Expansion of exploration works caused necessity of reorganization. Already in Soviet time oil sector was nationalized, all small domestic and foreign companies, entities and firms were liquidated. On their places various trusts were organized that were entitled to conduct exploration.
In 1920 Administration of Ural-Emba region’s oil-fields was established in Moscow with the aim of commercial oil extraction. It was reorganized in 1922 into «Embaneft» trust concentrated on exploitation and exploration drilling. Along with development of Dossor and Makat, it performed exploration in earlier discovered domes that brought to discovery of oil deposits in Baishonas in 1930, Sagiz and Yeskene in 1931 and in 1932, correspondingly.
Oil skimming, refining and preparation for transportation was carried out in Dossor and Makat where big containers (up to 2-3 thousands m (3)) were gathered and design of which astounds even modern engineering designers. In the beginning of 1920s volumes of oil containers constituted 37 482 tons in Dossor, and 16 142 tons in Makat. There were 141 717 tons of oil at Rakushi refinery, and 1 394 tons of oil in reservoirs of Yeskene.
In 1926-27 of «Embaneft» trust businesses passed to extract oil by means of bore-hole pulsers and compressors. At the same time natural gas began to be used for boilers heating and domestic needs. Gas pipeline was built in Dossor that was connected to exploitation wells.
Studies of S. Nikitin, P, Pravoslavzev, A. Zamyatin, S. Mironov and N. Tikhonovich related to Caspian Sea region, N. Andrusiv and Bayarunas related to Mangistau had big importance at initial stage of geological structure study and oil content estimation of Western Kazakhstan. The most important among geological results of studies of this period are development of stratigraphy of Jurassic, cretaceous and Cainozoic buildups, assessment of salt and dome deposits, widespread in Caspian Sea region structures, drafting its tectonic framework, detection by N.Andrusov Mangistau complex megaanticline, in general shedding light to conditions of oil content and formation of large-scale maps of range of oilfields, development of understanding of maternal oil containing stratum (cretaceous by S. Nikitin, Jursassic by A.Zamyatin and N. Tikhonovich).
In the second half of 1920s Emba oil workers began to apply rotary drilling that fostered development of drilling works, increasing of well depth, rate of opening-out and exploration of oil deposits. Rotary drilling was applied for the first time in the USSR. As a results of that, average depth of well increased from 196,7 in 1929 to 637,3 in 1932. Emba oil workers were first in the USSR and Europe who mastered superdeep drilling of that time, up to 2500-2800 meters, in Dossor and Makat.
It is said in report «Development perspectives of Ural-Emba region» delivered by I.M. Gubkin in 1927 at meeting of Council of oil industry of SCNE: «The earliest exploration work refer to the end of past century – to 1889. First works were conducted by Leman in Karashungul stow that is located approximately in 35-40 kilometers to Karaton situated on Caspian Sea coastline. Leman performed 17 small drilling wells in this Karashungul, and in November of 1899 one of wells flushed from 40 meter depth with flow rate of up to 90 000 poods of oil per day».
Such outcome made other oil industrialists turn their attention to this region and in 1916-1917 «Emba-Caspiy» put here 14 drilling wells of 150 meter depth on average. Furthermore, speaking of necessity to pay the most careful attention to Emba region development, I.M. Gubkin says: «…I think it would be fair enough if state helps Embaneft in this regards. Assistance might be rendered in various ways: for instance, to exempt Embaneft from all kinds of tax and debt obligations and to allow fully allocation of all received profits to further development of exploration works» (CTA of RoK, reservce 196, inventory 1, case 234).
Line management of geological exploration works in Emba was executed by Geological Committee of chief mining and fuel administration of SCNE of the USSR. I.M. Gubkin was the one who paid special attention to development of Ural-Emba region.
In 1931 I.M. Gubkin emphasized in his report at extraordinary session of Science Academy of the USSR: «Vigorous and daring exploration may turn Ural-Emba region into a grandiose region with many dozens of millions of tons of oil extraction. It is necessary to throw maximum funds and concentrate on this region our unimpaired attention».
New impetus to development of geological and exploration studies in the territory of Western Kazakhstan was given in 1925-1926. In 1925 as a result of auditing «Embaneft» trust’s activities a concrete objective was set for oil workers: in 5-7 years to explore structures with signs of oil-and-gas content in the area of 3500 square versts of northern territories (of Temir district) of Aktobe region. According to these objectives, by the beginning of 1930s exploration works exceeded borders of South Emba and proceeded in the territory of Aktobe region.
Thereby need of establishing «Aktobenefterazvedka» territorial trust, and later «Kaznefterazvedka» trust in Gurjev city (Atyrau) emerged. Such reorganization was driven by need of functional division of oil sector into oil extraction entities and organizations dealing exclusively with exploration of oilfields because concentration of these two functions in one hands turned sector into a bulky structure that created some complications in conducting fieldworks connected to oilfields exploration.
In 1931 Shubarkudyk oilfield was opened by drilling of well #10 by newly reorganized trust «Aktobenefterazvedka» in Aktobe region. Two years later Zhaksymai oilfield was discovered. Both oilfields were located far from Gurjev city. Soon a problem of transportation of extracted oil emerged that was solved by building Gurjev -Kandyagash railroad to connect Shubarkudyk and Zhaksymai oilfields with Dossor and Makat.
Thus, by the end of 1920s geological and exploration works were expanded due to embracing significant part of Aktobe region by geological and exploration works. During 5 years 135 geological and geophysics parties studied oil wealth of Western Kazakhstan. It led to significant growth of volume of works. For example, before nationalization of region’s oil wealth 42328 l.m. wells were drilled (on average 5300 meters per year), and after 1920 - 284 thousands l.m. (on average 20600 l.m. per year). From 1920 to 1929 in production fields of Ural-Emba region 1630 thousand tons of oil was extracted or 19% more than volume obtained during wholel pre-revolutionary period. Maximum oil extraction - 417536 tons - was achieved in 1931.
Council of People's Commissars of KASSR adopted special resolution «On measures of Emba-Neft development» dated January 29, 1934 #86 that obliged «Embaneft» to bring into production Kosshagyl and Iskene oilfields as well as to build there a power station, to construct petroleum storage reservoirs and to put water-supply line. The resolution paid special attention to necessity of construction of Makat-Kosshagyl railroad and a branch to Iskene. Issues concerning creation normal living conditions for oil workers were not forgotten too; it was recommended to build residence houses in business fields and in Gurjev city as well as to establish auxiliary facilities (allotment gardens, dairy farms, livestock farms). Additionally, it was recommended to relevant public authorities to solve issues of hiring 200 workers and 100 qualified specialists of construction major to work at oil fields (Atyrau region state archives, reserve 7, inventory 28, pages 1,2).
Starting from 1925 following first geophysics experiments in Europe (1912-1916, Etvesh), geophysical research methods began to be applied in Emba oil region, in particular shooting by means of gravitation variometers Z-40 under supervision of B. Numerov was performed. Gravity measurements by torsion balance right away proved to be effective for lateral exploration and depth determination of salt stock domes’ bedding in Caspian Sea cavern conditions. In 1930 an independent gravimetric branch under supervision of future Soviet academician E. Fotiadi was organized when establishing geological survey division at «Embaneft» trust. In 1932 geological survey division detached from the trust due to increase in volume of works, and later it was restructured into «Kazneftegeofizika» trust.
By 1940 92 shootings of 1:100000 – 1:200000 scale were made. Since 1932 shooting of 1: 25000 -1: 50000 scale were used when refining salt-dome structure. In 1939-1937 Ustyurt territory was covered by rare network of pendulum measurements. In 1940 fairly expensive variometers of Z-40, S-20 and etc. types were replaced by high performer and more economical gravimeters of various types. First experienced seismic works using seismic-refraction method (SRM) were fulfilled in 1929 in Emba oil field. By virtue of SRM application an opportunity of advancing reliability of configuration measurement and depth of salt-dome cores’ deposits appeared.
Starting from 1934 pilot surveys using reflection method (RM) to determine possibility of breaking up oversaline deposits were applied. In 1931-1935 seismic works SRM and partially RM works in Torgai low were performed where depth of Palaeozoic foundation deposits were estimated. In 1935-1936 to the south from Shymkent city SRM seismic measurements were performed to find depressions in Palaeozoic foundation. In 1938-1948 RM, and in 1940 SRM allowed breaking up of mesozoic-kainozoic formation deposits in Northern subsidence of Central-Kazakhstan Paleozoic mass under sediments of Western Siberian Plate in the region of Petropavlovsk city. In 1934 seismic measurements in considerable volumes were conducted by «Embaneft» and ‘Aktobenefterazvedka» trusts, and starting from 1939 by «Kazakhstanneftekombinat».
Volumes of seismic measurements works continuously grew, and 4620 kilometers out of 5331 kilometer long seismic measurements profile made from 35 structures falls to western Kazakhstan. Establishment stage of seismic measurements is characterized by its testing directed to solve concrete geological problems.
Geoelectrical prospecting by profiling method were tested first in 1929 by State Geological Committee party at salt-dome structures of Caspian Sea region. Starting from 1930 vertical electrical sounding (VES) method had been conducted till 1934 in Emba oil field together with Schlumberger Company, but due to impossibility of quantitative interpretation of VES data, this methods works were ceased for a long time. In 1936 tellurics were tested for the first time in Caspian Sea region.
Experienced magnetometer measurements that were conducted from 1929 at domes of Dossor, Iskene, Novobogatinsk, Zhamankeikebas, showed that magnetic were not effectives when studying salt-dome structures, and therefore in 1931-1937 only general state magnetic survey with very rare network of observations was performed.
Oilfield (logging) geophysical studies in wells began to be conducted in 1932-1934 at Dossor, Makat oilfields («Embaneft» trust) and Mortuk, Zhusa and etc. («Akttyubenefterzvedka» trust). Well logging was made in conjunction with Schlumberger Company by means of electrical survey and spontaneous polarization methods. Starting from 1938 electrical logging has been conducted in all stratigraphic test wells. At this time an independent administration on electric prospecting (headed by M. Kadysov) was established in Gurjev city that rendered services to «Embaneft» trust’s oilfields. An independent party conducted logging at oilfields of Aktybinskaya region.
A great attention was paid to the development of the Emba oil region at 17 and 18 congress of AUCP (b). The documents adopted there determined general directions of the oil resources search. For the purposes of the improvement of South Emba oil field management and the development of new regions in North Emba the Soviet of People’s Commissars resolved on 22-23 December 1936 to divide from the trust «Embaneft» North (Temir) field region and to create on its basis «Aktyubneft» trust. To the manager position was appointed the authority, talented production organizer, one of the followers of the prominent soviet scientist and geologist I.M. Gubkin Y.V. Lavrentiev, who worked before as the manager of the trust «Embaneft» (Baidosov Z.B., Seitpagambetov G.S., Sultangalieva G.S., Nurghanov R.N. «Aktyubinsk oil: the history and the present». Aktobe, 2000).
In whole the exploration of this period allowed determining the rational research complex necessary for the detailed research of salt domes, which included first of all the gravimetry and prospecting seismology. The recognition of the necessity to activate the search and prospecting geologic-geophysical works led to the organization of the first at the republic scale geophysical service in 1940. Then under the Kazakh geological department the geophysical group under the direction of M. Morozov was created.
On November 1935 there was the special session of AS of the USSR devoted to the issues of the Emba oil and chemical industry development. At this session the academician I. Gubkin stated the specific target: to create on the East of the country oil base, which according to its production capacity will be not less than Caucasian one. Large parts of the second oil base shall be West-Ural and the Ural-Emba oil regions. At the session there was made a decision to send to these regions the scientific expedition. In 1939 the expedition under the direction of V. Baturin left to the Emba region. The expedition participants Y. Kosygin, I. Yurkevich, A. Yanshin described in details different types of kungursk stage sediments, kungursk age of chemogenic strata was proved; sediments of Middle Jura were dismembered in details. The Ural-Emba oil-bearing region was distinguished into two parts on the boundary of Khobdinsk and Aralsorsk gravitational peaks, the opinion of oil migration from below was expressed, due to what it was recommended to pay a special attention to external showings of oil near oil dumping in accordance with collecting properties of rocks. («The great Emba», 1937).
The development of oil sector was not limited only by Gurjev region. In 1930 the first exploratory well drilling was started, opened the oil on the salt dome Shubarkuduk. The academician I. Gubkin reported on this fact at the session of Academy of Sciences in 1933. In six years the oil field went there into the service and «Aktobneft» trust was established, further renamed into «Aktobnefterazvedka». During the years of the Great Patriotic War operating deposit Ghaksymai went into the service. From 1930 to 1947 in Aktyubinsk region more than 90 wells had been drilled, and in 1958 Craelius well was drilled on the new discovered salt dome Kenkiyak. Thus large oil deposit Kenkiyak was discovered, which development lasted for a few years and was finished in 1962. In 1967 Kenkiyak deposit started oil production.
Since 1959 a few oil and two gas deposits (Bostagaisk and Kyzyloisk), started to operate in 1967, and then – Kumsai, Kokghide, Mortyk and other in the northern part of the Emba river basin.
In 60s great prospects concerning oil and search in subsalt sediments lying at the considerable depth were opened. For the first time subsalt sediments were investigated at Ghanaghol, and in 1967 at Kumsaisk searching areas.
In 1978 at oil-gas condensate field Ghanaghol the prolific oil inflow from the 3000 meters depth was received. It had been developed since 1938.
In 1983 Koghasai and Urikhtau oil deposits were discovered, and in 1987 – Sinelnikov, which contain in oil reserves about 115 millions cubic meters of gas.
Since 1996 prospecting works at Laktybai, Ghanatan, East Akghar, Alibekmola and Koghasai oil deposits had been conducted. At South Alibekmola oil flow to surface was received.
To the end of 1997 in above-salt complex within Aktyubinsk region 7 oil fields were known, and in subsalt one – 6 oil and 4 oil-gas condensate fields.
In 2000 Laktybai exploration was finished, where the oil is in subsalt sediments at 4500 meters depth. To the end of past century Aktyubinsk region, according to industrial oil reserves, was on the third place (900 mln. tons), and according to gas reserves – the fourth place – (more than 200 mln. cubic meters).
During pre-war five years in West Kazakhstan, basically in the Emba region, up to 53 geological prospecting and up to 60 geophysical parties had been working. The results of geological researches are stated in the State geological map on a scale 1:1 000 000 of sheets L-38, M-38, L-39, published in 1939-1941.
«Embaneft» complex besides its principle activity – oil and gas production, conducted the small scope of exploratory drilling for the purpose of the reserves increase near operating oil fields. This works were performed basically at the territory of South Emba, where more than 10 fields were developed. Thus in 1935 «Embaneft» complex, while drilling well No. 6, got an oil gusher on the dome Kosshagyl, during one year the field went into the service.
With the growth of oil production the problem of its transport became more and more important. It was performed by railway and water transport. Constructed in 30s oil pipelines Dossor-Guriev, especially the oil trunk line Kaspiy-Orsk, through the fields of Aktyubins region, was of great national importance. Kaspiy-Orsk pipeline was constructed in 3 years; on October 1935 it went into the service. By this pipeline 65% of the Emba oil was dispensed to Orsk.
Forcing the exploratory works and the discovery of a number of deposits in 30s were necessitated by the creation of firm raw materials base of oil-gas producing industry in the East of the country in case of the hostility, which approach became more and more appreciable. In 1937 «Kazneftrazvedka» trust discovered the deposit Kulsary. Intensive oil search works performed by «Kazakhstanneft» complex (after the abolishment of «Embaneft» complex) were crowned with the discovery and bringing into the service on a tight timetable of such deposits as Narmondanak, Bekbike and Gholdybai in 1941-1942. Thereby 30s and the beginning of 40s were marked by the discovery of the main oil-gas fields of South Emba and the creation of the firm raw material base of oil-gas producing industry in the East of the Former USSR. An annual oil production in 1940 was 750 thousand tons.
However, the degree of Transcaspian research was very uneven, detailed geologic-geophysical researches were concentrated in Elton, Baskunshak, Ider regions and on the separate oil fields of the Emba region, and large territories of Central Transcaspian were not covered even with reconnaissance surveys. From 400 prospective structures known at that time only at 38 structures exploratory drilling was performed.
The severe trial for the whole country was the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). For the purpose of the production compensation of oil regions Maikop and Groznyi, which temporarily terminated an activity, the most important military and economic task was utmost forcing of oil production in Kazakhstan. The supply of immediate needs of the country national economy and fighting capacity of the Soviet Army depended on the successful solution of this task.
The Central Committee of Kazakhstan CP on December 1942 conducted at the oil field Dossot the meeting of party officials and senior executives, where the complex of certain activities on the improvement of oil field works and the attraction of necessary additional resources for oil production increase was developed.
Oil industry workers of the Ural-Emba region during the war years worked intensively, 12-13 hours a day without days off, front brigades were organized at all oil fields. During this period such progressive methods as forced fluid withdrawal, additional hole chambering, torpedoing of production performance had been used. With the least expenses of material and technical means the high-speed well driving was performed. One-man-operated drilling, which saves a lot of materials and cement, was mastered. The prospectors discovered on the Emba river three new oil deposits, which were successfully brought into the industrial development during the Patriotic war period and gave tons of high-quality oil. New enterprises were brought into the service; large-scale petroleum refinery was built in Gurjev city (T. Shaukenbaev «The oil industry economy of Kazakhstan», «Kazakhstan», Alma-Ata, 1974).
Oil production in 1941-1945 was on an average 800 thousand tons per year.
During the years of the Great Patriotic War geologic researches had been concentrated in the Ural-Emba oil-bearing region. The significant scopes of search-survey and seismic-prospecting works, structure and test drilling were concentrated on salt domes – Narmondanak, Kuzbak, Kyzylghar, Munaily, Koshkar, Dyuseke, etc. Some of domes were involved into commercial prospecting by deep-hole drilling. Meanwhile, commercial oil deposits were discovered at Munaily, Gholdybai, Narmondanak and Kulsary, which were the main objects of exploitation till 60s. Mangystau researches continued. In «The brief explanatory note on the question of the minerals on Mangyshlak», comprised by the chief geologist of Mangystau geologic prospecting expedition Chuvelev, particularly was said: «Anticlinal character of the structure of Mangyshlak rocks, and sometimes diapirism character (the cores percolation of the Ural-Emba region type) indicate possible oil accumulation in Mangyshylak subsoil. In Tyubedghik valley 50 kilometers from Fort-Shevchenko in lower chalk deposits of Khanga-Babinsk anticlinal fold the rocks with obvious indicators of oil bearing capacity were discovered» (Mangystau region state archives, fond 17, list 1, case 626). All this information became the basis of the further research of Mangystau.
The effective usage of geophysical research methods for oil prospecting structures discovery caused the establishment of Kazakh department of State geophysical trust in 1943, further – specialized trust «Kazakhstanneftegeofizika». The trust included 5 geophysical parties. Limited technical capacities of the park of well borers did not allow multiple increasing the explored oil reserves, all search works were concentrated on the above-salt sediments research, where during the war years the deposits South Koshkar (1943) and Tenteksor (1944) had been discovered. The construction of oil pipeline and the petroleum refinery in Gurjev city (Atyrau) necessitated more forcing works on new deposits search.
During the postwar period the USSR Government made a number of special decisions, aimed to the increase of drilling and construction works and oil industry of the republic. For the increase of construction and prospecting works special trust were organized: «Kazakhstanneftestroi», «Kazakhstannefterazvedka», «Aktyubnefterazvedka» and Kazakh department of State geophysical trust. High-powered borers, standard pumping units, tractor lifts were widely introduced at the fields. The direction of drilling works changed. If during the period of the Patriotic war exploratory drilling had been performed basically around existing material and technical bases, then after the war it was shifted to the most prospecting regions of South-East Emba for new deposits discovery. And «Aktyubneftrazvedka» trust organized the work in Aktobe region. In 1945 was organized the production association «Kazkhstanneft», which included all enterprises and institutions of prospecting, production and refining of oil in Kazakhstan. The important event was the discovery of thick oil reservoir at Kulsary and the determination of the oil-bearing capacity of Toles (Kazakhstan industry for 40 years, Kazakh state publishing house, Alma-Ata, 1957).
The first postwar years were marked with the discovery of a number of fields: Munaily and South Toles in 1947, Karaton in 1948, Toles in 1958, Karsak in 1951. The inclusion of stated fields into the development caused a great increase of an annual oil production up to 1.5 ml. tons and multiple growth of explored reserves.
Since 1946 geologic prospering effort in Caspian depression had been increased greatly, geophysical researches, deep test and appraisal well drilling had been performed. Search-survey and aerogeological works on vast territories of West Kazakhstan were accompanied with the structure drilling, geophysical, geochemical, geobotanical and other researches. In course of Caspian depression research rational oil exploration complex was composed, including the gravimetric survey, structure drilling, seismic prospecting and test drilling. In 1946 map publishing on a scale 1:1 000000 of sheets M-40 and L-40 was finished. Simultaneously geological survey on a scale 1:200000 was conducted. In northern part of Caspian depression the works were performed by South-East ARGROI expedition, and within its northern edge – West Kazakhstan expedition of the Union geologic and searching office (UGSO) of «Soyuznefterazvedka» trust. Since 1948 at the territory of the whole Caspian depression Aerogeological expedition had been working. Survey works were conducted intensively in different oil-bearing regions. On the Emba they led to the discovery of such oil deposits as Terenozek (1951), Taghigali (1956), Karaarna (1957). The commercial oil content was discovered at Ghylansk structure (Aktyubinsk Transurals). Among numerous military publications devoted to geology, tectonics, and West Kazakhstan oil content, the most important are the works of A. Yanshin, Y. Nikitina, Y. Kosygin, P. Avrov, G. Aizenshtadt, N. Nevolin, V. Vakhromeev and others.
During the postwar period the intensive improvement of the methods and techniques of seismic prospecting, field and laboratory works began; multichannel seismic systems with the social-graphic record were created. The regions of North Ustyurt, Aktyubinsk Transurals, the Ural-Volga interfluve, and also Torgay and Tengiz depressions and southern part of West Siberian plate were researched.
Since 1948 the correlation refraction method (CRM) had been widely used. In 1947-1948 in Caspian depression regional seismic works started to be performed. First-event method works were conducted in Torgay depression and Transirtysh.
Since 1955 systematic seismic works at the territory of South Mangystau had been conducted, the treatment of CRM first sections in Gharkent deflection started. The number of surveys using gravimeters (up to 35) and variometers (up to 22) increased. In the Emba region and Aktyubinsk Transurals with help of the survey on a scale 1:100000 and 1:200000 salt cores were determined, eastern boundary of the halogen formations distribution was identified. The surveys for oil-gas prospecting regions research were conducted in North Kazakhstan and Ili depression. Since 1950 surveys with gravimeter had been pressing variometric survey, the usage of which decreased dramatically. In 1953-1954 the surveys on a scale 1:200000 with the section in 2 mgl of Zaisan and Alakol depression were practically finished. Since 1953 the survey on a scale 1:200000 had been conducted on Ustyurt, in North Transaral. Within Shu-Sarysu depression the surveys on a scale 1:200000 – 1:500000 were conducted. In oil-gas prospecting regions of West Kazakhstan the survey on a scale 1:200000 with isolines in 4 mgl was mostly developed. Electrical prospering works were not widespread at that period; only experiments on the research of different modification possibilities in oil-gas prospecting regions were conducted.
Regional aeromagnetic surveys on a scale 1:100000-1:500000 had been conducted since 1959 at the territory of West Kazakhstan, its scope formed 956.5 thousand sq. km. Aeromagnetic survey with the device AEM-46 allowed increasing the surveys’ accuracy (from +20 gram to +5 gram) and researching in sedimentary basins the peculiarities of basement structure. Field (logging) service in 1946 distinguished into the separate Gurjev oil field office. Since that time in logging work complex, besides the measurements of RL and SP, the deviation survey, lateral sounding (LS), caliper measurement, thermometry were introduced.
For the establishment of the republic scientific investigations on the complex research of West Kazakhstan subsoil a great role was played by the session of AS of KazSSR, conducted in Gurjev city in 1949 on academician K.I. Satpaev’s initiative. At that time under his direction, with the participation of notable scientists and specialists in the sphere of oil geology, development, technique and technology of drilling, the main problems of the search and prospering, production and transport of hydrocarbons, petrochemistry and others were considered. The main ways of the further oil-gas sector development in West Kazakhstan were identified. Of a great importance also was All-Union scientific and technical conference on the problem of the search, prospecting and exploitation works of oil and gas (Gurjev city, 1959). The ideas of the academicians K.I. Satpaev and A.L. Yanshin about the necessity of a prompt growth of the front of oil search works by the withdrawal out of the old Emba limits and the coverage of untapped depths were proved soon by scientists and implemented by the sector organizers. Here should be noted the services of V. Fedynski, N. Baibakov, P. Avrov, B. Diyakov, P. Nevolin, Y. Vasiliev, N. Charygin, S. Orudghev, P. Enikeev, S. Utebaev, N. Kalinin, G. Dosmukhambetov, N. Imashev, G. Khakimov and others.
In 1956 the Ministry of geology of Kazakh SSR was organized, what marked the centralized planning and the purposeful conduction of the whole complex of geological prospecting works, aimed to the further increase of mineral and raw material resources of the republic as a whole, and hydrocarbonic raw materials particularly. At that time oil search works and oil production in West Kazakhstan were performed by the association «Kazakhstanneft», trusts «Aktyubnefterazvedka», «Uralsknefterazvedka», «Aerogeologiya», Kazakhstan geophysical complex was included in the Ministry of geology of the republic. At the end of 1958 in Gurjev the Ministry of geology and resources conservation of KazSSR established West Kazakhstan geological department, which united all oil search drilling enterprises of West Kazakhstan. During its activity, WKGD participated directly in the discovery of the most important oil-gas deposits of Caspian depression (except Tengiz), Mangystau and Bozashchi peninsula.
In 1959-1960 large oil deposits were discovered at Kenkiyak (Aktyubinsk region) and Prorv. The first deep well at Prorv on 11 August 1960 gave a powerful oil and gas gusher. As a result of geological and prospering work enforcement in the Ural-Emba interfluve new deposits were discovered: Martyshi (1962), South-West Kamysht (1962), Ghanatalap (1964), Gran and Oktyabr (1969). Oil production on the Emba in 1968 was 2 mln. tons, and in 1972 – 3 mln. tons. At the beginning of 60s instead of rotary drilling more high-speed downhole turbine motor drilling was introduced, well borer park grew, their technical capacities increased greatly, what allowed developing the depths up to 3.0-4.0 thousand m. This reflected first of all at the regional research of Caspian depression by the way of deep, test and apprasail well drilling, the usage of the geophysical prospering method complex at the every research stage (seismic prospering, gravity measurements, GSS and all types of logging). Simultaneously the radical sector improvement and oil production stimulation were implemented. For example, areal water pumping, hydraulic fracturing of formation, chemical treatment of critical areas, forced fluid withdrawal, different types of perforation, etc.
The end of 50s and the beginning of 60s were also characterized by the inclusion of new regions into the sphere of search works, particularly, South Mangystau. For more detailed prospecting of oil and gas deposits in this region in 1957 as apart of «Kazakhstanneft» association the trust «Mangyshlakneftegazrazvedka» was organized, which then came under West-Kazakhstan geological department of the Ministry of geology of Kazakh SSR.
In the environment of arid desert, in completely unpopulated and distant from big cities, rail and water ways region in a short space of time new large-scale oil-gas basin South Mangystau was opened.
In 1961 at the structure Uzen, while drilling core hole No. 18, from the depth of 367.5 meters for the first time on South Mangystau the gas gusher was received, after what at Uzen area prospecting drilling was performed with high speed. As a result prospecting hole No. 1, while testing from the depth of 1248-1261 meters, gave the oil gusher with the flow rate 80 cubic meters per day with connecting branch 10 mm. In the sequel commercial oil deposit at Uzen area was proved with oil gushers, received from the same horizon in wells No. 2 and 22. In 1959 prospect drilling at the structure Ghetybai was started. In 1961 from prospecting hole No. 6 of Ghetybai deposit the oil gusher was received. Thus in 1961 at South Mangystau two oil deposits – Uzen and Ghetybai were discovered almost simultaneously.
Attaching a great importance to oil-gas deposits development on Mangystau, the Council of Ministers of Kazakh SSR on 19 January 1962 adopted the resolution No. 41 «On the intensification of geological prospering works of oil and gas on Mangyshlak peninsula at the territory of south-eastern part of Caspian depression and the preparation of oil deposits discovered in this region for exploitation». For the commercial development of South Mangystau resources on January 1964, the production association «Mangyshlakneft» was established. For the upturn of virgin oil lands thousands of skilled workers and experienced engineers came from Azerbaijan, Tataria, Bashkiria, Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories. Oil industry worker settlements Eralievo, Ghetybai, the town Novyi Uzen (Ghanaozen) grew. In accordance with the resolution of CC of Kazakhstan Communist Party and the Council of Ministers of Kazakh SSR No. 123 of 13 February 1964 on the Consolidation of «Mangyshlakneft» the order No. 27 of 3 July 1964 «On the organization of oil field department Novyi Uzen» was issued. On 10 June 1965 the first special train with Mangystau oil was railroaded to Gurjev petroleum refinery (T. Shaukenbaev «The economy of Kazakhstan oil industry», «Kazakhstan» publishing house, Alma-Ata, 1974). With opening the oil-gas bearing region of South Mangystau with its largest deposits Uzen and Ghetybai, explored oil reserves according to industrial categories increased in 20 times, and an annual production in 14 times. During next 10 years new deposits were discovered and prospected to the development. For example, Tenge, Tasbolat, Karanmandymas, East Ghetybai, etc.
With sizzling increase of oil production, the exigency of oil pipeline construction for its transport to Gurjev petroleum refinery, and also to other refineries of the USSR aroused. In a short space of time, in 2 years, this pipeline was built, and the problem of Mangystau oil transport was solved. In 1969 the first stage of oil pipeline Uzen-Guriev-Kuibyshev (Samara) was brought into the service. On Mangystau for the first time highly paraffinic crude transport by «hot oil pipeline» was used. Mangystau oil started to come to Gurjev by 700 kilometer underground trunk line. The railway line Uzen-Shevchenko of 150 km length was constructed (V. Koltsov «The rates and proportions of the development of Kazakhstan industry», «Kazakhstan» publishing house, Alma-Ata, 1970). For the purposes of the maintenance of oil production high intensity the natural pressure gaslift method of the well exploitation was introduced, for the first time in the world the industrial-scale plant of hot water pumping into the ledge was used, etc. The discovery and speed development of Mangystau oil played the decisive role in multiple increase of explored reserves and favored entering of Kazakhstan to the number of leading oil producing republics of the Former USSR. In 70s the front of exploratory works took place on Bozashchi peninsula, what turned out with the discovery and prospecting of large-scale deposits Karaghambas, North Bozashchi, Kalamkas and others.
In the postwar history of West Kazakhstan research, in the scientific substantiation of its prospective of hydrocarbonic raw materials and the increase of the exploratory efficiency, a great contribution was made by the scientific officers of the Ural-Emba research base of AS of KazSSR created in 1946 on the academician K.I. Satpaev’s initiative for the investigation of the mineral resources of West Kazakhstan. In 1956 the base was reorganized into Oil Institute of AS of KazSSR, and in 1960 into Institute of geology and geophysics with the separation of subdivisions with chemical specialization into independent Institute of oil chemistry and natural salt. In 1963 Institute of geology and geophysics was passed to prospecting oil institute (KazRGPI). KazRGPI carried out important researches on the depth geological investigation of the sedimentary cover of Caspian depression, South Mangystau, Ustyurt, Bozashchi peninsula and implemented on this basis the scientific projection of oil-gas content of the regions with the large oil-gas deposits separation with the substantiation of the most rational direction of geological prospecting works. The Institute fulfilled oil-gas geological zoning of Kazakhstan territory according to the prospective degree, together with «Kazneftegazrazvedka» department and Moscow Institute ARGROI the map of the oil-gas content of Kazakh SSR was drawn up on a scale 1:500000 (published in 1978), and also a number of maps on a scale 1:1000000 on Caspian province together with research and industrial organizations (1968). The Institute continued to fulfill the research complex in the sphere of geology, the technique of drilling and well-casing, geochemistry, the phase state of hydrocarbonic systems and other areas.
A great event in oil prospecting industry of West Kazakhstan was superdeep drilling of Aralsor and Biikghal wells (up to 7000 m) and the substantiation of oil-bearing capacity of subsalt rock complex. «Kazneftegazrazvedka» department established in Gurjev city in 1972 started superdeep drilling for the purpose of oil and gas deposits opening-out in subsalt sediments. Soon subsalt deposits of Ghanaghol and huge oil-gas condensate deposits of Karashyganak were discovered. On the eve of new 1980 year boring activity on subsalt complex opening-out started in 70s resulted in the discovery of giant oil deposit Tengiz, included in 5 world largest deposits.
A great role in the search works effectiveness increase was played by the mechanization growth, the scope increase, the introduction of new methodologies into research methods. In 1958 Gurjev oil field complex was passed to Kazakhstan geophysical trust’s structure, and in 1960 separated into independent trust «Kazakhstanneftegeofizika» (with manager G. Khakimov). In 1960 Kazakh branch of All-Union Institute of prospering geophysics (KazAUIPG) was established in Almaty city. In 1962 pilot plant «Kazgeofizpribor» was created on the basis of maintenance shops of «Kazgeofiztrest». By the middle of 60s Kazakhstan geophysical service was presented by Kazakh geophysical trust with 6 expeditions and «Kazgeofizpribor» plant, «Kazakhstanneftegeofizika» trust with 4 expeditions, and also with 7 separate geophysical expeditions and a number of parties included into territorial geological departments. During these years the main scope of oil and gas search works was concentrated in Guriev, Ural, Aktyubinsk, Turlan (Shymkent city), Ili (Almaty city) geophysical expeditions, and also in West-Kazakhstan (Gurjev city) and Mangystau (Shevchenko city) field and geophysical expeditions, affiliated to the Ministry of geology of Kazakh SSR. In 1972 for the first time the specialized computing service on the seismic data treatment was created as a part of Kazakh pilot and methodological expedition of the Ministry of geology of the republic. Due to the necessity of seismic, field and gravimetric works conduction in oil field regions for the purpose of the reserves increase and supplementary exploration of known deposits, the Ministry of oil industry created the trusts: in 1966 in Shevchenko city – «Mangyshlakneftegeofizika» and in 1974 in Gurjev city – «Embaneftegeofizika».
In 1972 geophysical trusts of the Ministry of geology were abolished, and expeditions were placed under territorial geological departments. However, the concentration of geophysical equipment and human resources in separate organizations led to impairing of the geophysical equipment availability, weakening the attention to geophysical researches, the decrease of work quality and scope. As a reaction to these tendencies, «Kazgeofizika» association was created in 1981. It included all geophysical expeditions of the Ministry of geology, and also newly organized Mangystau and Almaty geophysical expeditions.
During this period seismic investigations were developing rapidly. The method of regulated directional reception (RDR) and borehole seismology were used. The RDR method anticipated to some extend a number of appeared later methods of wave selection and stacking, however, due to the equipment imperfection it was too bulky and not enough technological. Since 1962 «Kazgeofiztrest» had been executing small-scale works on the problem of direct oil and gas search. Sedimentary basins of East Kazakhstan were involved more and more widely to the search geophysical works. In 1956-1961 seismic investigations with gravimetry and electrical survey were conducted in Gharkent deflection, Balkhash, Alakol and Karkarinsk depression. Within Shu-Sarysu and Syrdariya depressions oil and search works began in 1958.
Since 1971 instead of single-coverage profiling by reflection method (RM) multiple observing systems by the common-depth-point method (CDP) had been used. Sharp directional profiling, borehole seismology methods (2D) were proofed and introduced, at the end of 70s space observing systems started to develop: from «wideline profiling» to three-dimensional (3D) seismic prospecting. The largest 3D surveys were conducted in the second half of 70s, the beginning of 80s on Tengiz and Karashyganak deposits.
Gravimetric survey during this period was conducted at the territory of up to 200 thousand sq. m. Kazakhstan territory is fully covered with the survey on a scale 1:200000 with isoline section in 2 mgl, in Caspian sea water area the survey on a scale 1:100000 was conducted. Within oil-gas prospecting basins up to 10% of the territory are covered with the survey on a scale 1:50000, at separate areas in case of detailing the works were performed on a scale 1:25000-1:10000. The high-accuracy state gravity reference net of I, II and III classes was created. The state gravimetric maps of different scales were prepared for publishing.
In electrical prospering different modifications and methods were proofed: vertical electrical sounding (VES), dipole electrical sounding (DES), induced potentials (IP), time-domain electromagnetic sounding (TDES), self-potential (SP), telluric current method (TCM), telluric-magnetic profiling (TMP), telluric-magnetic sounding (TMS) and others. The aeromagnetic survey in sediment basins was conducted on a scale from 1:1000000 to 1:50000. The whole republic’s territory is provided with magnetic field maps on a scale 1:20000, up to 90% of oil-gas prospecting areas are covered with the survey on a scale 1:50000. Field and geophysical (logging) investigations accompany drilling on each stage of the geological and prospering process. The works with microsondes, radiometric and acoustic logging were introduced into the complex of the obligatory research. The real pleiad of geophysicists, interpreters and other specialists, and also managers of large oil search and field-geophysical expeditions had grown up. They made a great contribution in the discovery of Kazakhstan oil resources.
As it was mentioned, 70-90s in whole were effective for Kazakhstan, marked with a number of new discoveries. Intensive searches continued in different regions of Caspian depression, on Ustyurt, Bozashchi and Aryskum deflection of South Torgai depression. At northern edge of Caspian sea a number of small-scale oil-gas condensate fields were discovered: Teplov, Tokarev, Chinarev, Kamen, Dariya and others, connected with tectonic banks, which appeared during Carboniferous in the era of the depression‘s northern edge forming. These objects were the prelude to the discovery in 1979 of the largest Karashyganak oil-gas condensate field in Paleozoic subsalt sediments, which proved on the practice scientists’ projections, announced at the early stages of searches in Caspian depression. The discovery of Karashaganak deposit was the great achievement, which had decently crowned the work of the big team of subsoil prospectors. It is remarkable, that on Mangystau among productive were Triassic sediments, where oil flows to surface were received on South and East Ghetybai, what extended greatly the prospects of the production increase due to the development of more deep seated parts of stratigraphic succession. Besides this during these years such deposits as Kansu, Karakuduk, South Alamuryn, Rakushechnoe, Bekturly on South Mangystau, Kenbai, Oraskazgan, Kisimbai, Rovnoe and others were discovered in Caspian depression. The discovery of stated deposits, which resources were comparatively small, but, nevertheless, they strengthened significantly the raw material base of the oil production industry of Kazakhstan. As it was mentioned, large discoveries were made in 70s on Bozashchi peninsula, where in a short space of time Karaghanbas, North Bazashchi, Kalamkass, Ghalgiztobe and other oil and gas deposits were discovered and prepared for the development.The characteristic feature of Bozashchi deposits is a comparatively small producing depth and its confinedness to stratigraphic traps, what is conditioned by the significant capacity reduction of chalk and Jurassic sediments to Bozashchi fold. The oil of stated deposits is characterized with high specific weight and high content of vanadium, up to 250mg/t. Due to these deposits discovery, which reserves are considered to be large-scale, especially Kalamkas, the raw material base of Mangystau extended appreciably and strengthened.
In Caspian depression on its eastern edge the searches of above-salt oil were replaced by subsalt sediments investigation. The researches were finished with the discovery of Ghanagholsk, subsalt Kenkiyak, and later in 80-90s – Alibekmola, Urikhtau and other deposits. Raw material resources of Aktyubinsk region, as a result of the subsalt oil discovery, increased significantly and created the necessary prerequisites for the great increase of an annual production.
At the beginning of 70s the gas-bearing basin was discovered in South Kazakhstan – Shu-Sarysu. Discovered gas fields (Pridoroghnoe, Amangeldy, Airakty, Anabai, Usharal-Kempirtobe, Ortalyk, etc.) contain comparatively small reserves of natural gas. Taking into account the considerable growth of proven gas fields, the Cabinet of Kazakh SSR adopted the resolution of 11 October 1991 No. 601 «On Kazakh state gas concern «Kazakhgasprom» on the prospering, production, transport and processing of natural gas and gas condensate». E.R. Azerbaev was appointed as the president of the State concern. The concern included enterprises on the production, development, transport and sale of natural gas. It also included the enterprises on engineering, construction, supply in both gas sphere and oil subindustry. Then with the transformation into the state holding company «Kazakhgaz», more than ten joint-stock companies were established within its content. The most large-scale of them were «Karachaganakgazprom» and «Batystransgaz» (Azerbaev E.R. «The strategy and social and economic effectiveness of the development of the gas industry in Kazakhstan», Uralsk, 1999).
During the same period to the sphere of oil and gas search and prospecting of sediment basins of southern regions of Kazakhstan were involved. Among them were Aral, Syrdariya, South Torgai and others. In the South of Torgai deflection in 1984 the large-scale gas and oil field Kumkol was discovered, and also a number of oil and gas fields – Maibulak, Akshabulak, South Kumkol, Aryskum, Konys, South Konys and North-West Konys, Kyzylkiya, Nuraly, Ashchysai, Aksai, Akshabulak, Bektas and others. A great role in the realization of this region prospects was played by the purposeful commercial geophysical works of the association «Kazgeofizika» and its expeditions (Turlan, Ili, Almaty, Aerogeologygeophysical).
The end of 70s and the beginning of 80s were marked with one more unique event – the discovery on southern edge of Caspian depression of super-giant according to reserves deposit – Tengiz, also connected with subsalt sediments. The discovery of subsalt oil on Tengiz, Karachaganak, Kenkiyak, Alibekmola, Korolev and other deposits increased manifold the explored oil reserves in the republic as a whole.
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