Dragon Oil has completed two wells in the Cheleken contract area in Turkmenistan. The Dzheitune (Lam) C/183 well was drilled and completed as a dual producer to a depth of 2,758 m (9,049 ft) in August. The Dzheitune (Lam) C/184 well, drilled to a depth 2,900 m (9,514 ft), was completed as a single producer in September, the company said in a news release.

Both wells, completed with the jackup rig on the Dzheitune (Lam) C platform, are producing with testing planned to commence following the commissioning of an additional line between the Dzheitune (Lam) C and 28 platforms, Dragon said in the release. The rig has skidded to the next slot to drill the Dzheitune (Lam) C/185 well, one of the remaining two wells to be completed by the jackup rig before year-end.

The leased platform-based rig is currently on scheduled maintenance and expected to commence drilling on the Dzheitune (Lam) 22 platform in 4Q 2013, Dragon said. The rig is due to complete one well on the Dzheitune (Lam) 22 platform before year-end. The arrival of the contracted platform-based rig (Land Rig 2) for drilling on the Dzygalybeg (Zhdanov) A platform is expected in 4Q 2013.

As announced separately, Dragon Oil has awarded a contract for the lease and management of two jackup drilling rigs from BKE Shelf Ltd. for a total period of three years, the release said. The first one of these rigs, the Neptune rig, is due to arrive shortly and commence drilling on the Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) 21 platform.

The water injection pilot project in Dzheitune (Lam) 75, which commenced in June 2013, has been progressing and early indications of the pressure response in the pilot area are positive, the release said. Dragon Oil plans to expand water injection operations to two or three other platforms during 2014. The aim of water injection program is to maintain pressure, sustain production rates and increase reserves recovery.

The introduction of an artificial lift in form of jet pumps started in June 2013 in two wells on the Dzheitune (Lam) 13 platform: 13/118 and 13/168. Dragon reported a production increase in the range of 500 b/d to 700 b/d per well. The company is currently installing a jet pump in another well on the same platform that should commence production by early October. In addition, Dragon said it plans to to expand jet pumps operations to other select platforms during 2014. The objective of jet pumps application is to increase production and enhance recovery.

The average Cheleken field production for 3Q 2013 was approximately 74,300 b/d, representing an increase of 7% over the corresponding period in 2012, Dragon said. The average production for September 2013 was 74,000 b/d.