Canada-based Tethys Petroleum has encountered oil in its East Olimtoi EOL09 exploration well in Tajikistan.
The company said that a strong flow of live oil to the surface accompanied by 33% gas in the drilling mud was discovered while drilling the well at a depth of 3,342m in sandstones of the Alai formation (a secondary target).
The well was stabilized after closing of the blowout preventer and the company has recommenced drilling operations.
The well is planned to reach a total depth of some 3,800m and the primary target for this well is the Paleogene Bukhara limestone formation.
Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia with activities currently in the Republics of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.