A landmark event has occurred in Uzbekistan's energy sector: a record-breaking exploratory well has been drilled on the Ustyurt Plateau, reaching a depth of 6.5 km. According to the country's president, the exploration efforts have been successful, with the discovery of a new gas field. In addition to the volume of fuel, the technological complexity of the work and the unique depth of the deposits, previously unattainable for the region, are particularly noteworthy.
Historically, drilling in the Ustyurt oil and gas region has been limited to 2.5–3 km, making the current operation unprecedented. Geologists note that the discovery will require a revision of the reserve estimates for the entire region. The area under investigation covers 105.1 thousand square kilometers and includes cross-border zones with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the Ustyurt Plateau, the Southern Aral Sea region, and part of the Aral Sea, which complicates resource development.
Experts believe that the lower layers of the plateau conceal significant, previously inaccessible hydrocarbon resources, the development of which will become a priority for the industry in the coming years. The Ustyurt Plateau is known for its unusual landscapes and cliffs up to 350 m high, and the geological history of the area, when it was the bottom of the ancient Tethys Ocean, is still evident in the finds of prehistoric shells and shark teeth.