SGGA Monthly Report July 1 – July 31, 2015

The project is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is managed by Advanced Engineering Associates International, Afghanistan. The SGGA project focuses on drilling and gas field development, with a primary objective of increasing natural gas production in the region. The project involves collaboration with various Afghan government agencies, including the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) and the Afghan Geological Survey (AGS). In July 2015, the SGGA project made significant progress in several areas. The project team assisted MoMP in responding to a proposal from Turkish National Petroleum (TPAO) to double case the Gourdak salt/anhydrite formation in the Juma #2A well. The proposal was declined by MoMP after an engineering review of similar wells drilled in the area. The project team also prepared a letter template for the Afghanistan Petroleum Authority (APA) to use in requesting a no-objection letter from USAID for amendment to TPAO's contract. Additionally, the team advised MoMP on handling TPAO's invoice for mobilization and informed USAID of MoMP's plans to pay the invoice from Ministry's appropriated funds without USAID contribution. The project team also made progress in collecting data from various MoMP departments and staff on the seven gas fields to be covered by the planned data evaluation and reserve estimate subcontract. The team received a minister's directive to MoMP divisions to cooperate with and assist SGGA in gas field technical data access and gathering. The project team met with various stakeholders, including APA's Z. Sarwari, AGS officials, and GIZ Geological Consultancy & Capacity Building Services (CBAGS II) staff, to discuss project progress and coordinate data collection efforts. The team also provided a copy of SGGA's latest economic model and discussed key points from SGGA's 2015 gas market study with APA's Z. Sarwari. The project team encountered some challenges, including communication difficulties with MoMP due to the end of Ramazan and Eid-al-Fitr holiday. However, the team is expected to monitor MoMP's support of TPAO importation of wireline logging equipment, track MoMP/MoF processing of TPAO's first invoice, and track TPAO's drilling progress in the next month. The SGGA project is expected to continue its efforts to develop natural gas resources in the Sheberghan area, with a focus on increasing production and improving the overall efficiency of the project. The project's progress will be closely monitored, and any challenges or issues will be addressed promptly to ensure the project's success.