«SOUTH-OIL» oil and gas company is engaged in exploration and production of hydrocarbons— in Kyzylorda and Ulytau regions. It was established with participation of FTIC Ontustik LLP, which owns a larger share of the authorized capital (owners of the company are the family of S. Seitzhanov). And today «SOUTH-OIL» is deservedly considered one of the most successful and fast developing companies in the oil and gas market of Kazakhstan.

2023

«SOUTH-OIL» celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023. Over the years, «SOUTH-OIL» has evolved from an operator for development of several fields into a major private company known not only within the corporate footprint, but also on a national basis and abroad.

Company covers almost the entire cycle of oil and gas production, develops and implements innovative methods of field development, including those with hard-to-recover reserves. The great attention is paid to environmental projects and programs to support education and professional development of employees.

The company’s management considers social and charitable activities an important part of its work. Over 20 years, «SOUTH-OIL» has implemented a number of programs aimed at improving the quality of life of population and development of territories.

1999

The history of «SOUTH-OIL» begins in 1999 when an unknown company has won the tender for oil exploration and production at Kenlyk field in Kyzylorda region. The strong and reputable industry players participated in the tender, including Canada’s Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd. (now PetroKazakhstan Inc.). «SOUTH-OIL» has won the tender by offering favorable commitments – social expenditures that provide for investment in the development of the region of up to 3% of production cost.

2001

The starting point of the Company’s activities is the signing of a contract for exploration and production of raw hydrocarbons (HCP) in 2001 between «SOUTH-OIL» LLP and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2004

The first oil was produced in 2004. That’s how the history of «SOUTH-OIL» has started, with about 40 people working there at the time.

The head office is located in Shymkent, the Company has branches in Astana and Kyzylorda. Kyzylorda division is equipped with a production facilities and sports complex for 600 people. Currently, Company employs 890 people. «SOUTH-OIL» LLP is a 100% Kazakhstani company, without any foreign participation.

During the period of the Company’s activity 10 oil and gas fields were discovered, commercial production of hydrocarbons is performed in five fields – Kenlyk, Southwest Karabulak, East Akshabulak, Aktau, Yesszhan, and Kalzhan, Northern Akshabulak, Western Akshabulak, Northern Kenlyk and Bukharsay fields are under supplementary exploration to bring them into commercial production. Since the beginning of its activity, Company has produced 9.371 million tons of oil and 745.250 million cubic meters of gas, 381 wells were drilled.

For many years «SOUTH-OIL» has been productively cooperating with such companies as «Munay Kurylys Service» LLP, «Smart-Oil» LLP, where main founder of which is FTIC Ontustik LLP.

The company has developed in stages. In 1999, a multi-field construction company «Munay Kyrulus Service» was opened, in 2004 «Smart-Oil» drilling company, which since its establishment has been drilling exploration and prospect wells for «SOUTH-OIL» also performs well workovers.

2003

In August 2003, the company acquired over 43% of stake in the «Terenozekmunayonayonimderi» oil loading terminal, contracts for oil transportation through CPC (Caspian Pipeline Consortium) system were signed in 2005-2006.

2008

Central Processing Facility (CPF) at Kenlyk field, which allows preparing the marketable oil for further shipment through the system of main pipelines for further sale was put into operation in 2008.

2010

In 2010, Company with assistance of Kazakhstan Association of Small Aircraft has established Aviation Department, which in 2017 was transformed into Aviation Department of «SOUTH-OIL». Airbus model Eurocopter- 130T2 helicopters made in France are used for transportation of people and other aviation work.

2012

Since 2012, CentrPromGeophysics has started to provide maintenance services for geophysical support of drilling processes, in a short time not only «SOUTH-OIL», but also other subsoil users of Kazakhstan became customers.

All 20 years the company has been working in social investment projects with local orientation, improving the lives of cities and villages, and at the national level, working for the benefit of the whole country. This includes many areas of life: from culture and sports, to projects to revive spirituality. The company consistently integrates the principles of sustainable development and social responsibility into its business strategy and actively participates in solving regional social issues, allocating annually 3% of production costs to social development.

2018 г.

Diversification of the oil industry is a worldwide process, leading oil companies, reacting to to the unstable conditions, seek to transform their business, starting to move towards new for them, but promising in the future areas of the economy. Its chief executive officer Serikzhan Seitzhanov was named Businessman of the Year by Forbes. Kazakhstan in 2018. The Company is consistently ranked among the 50 largest private companies in Kazakhstan and the list of the largest taxpayers in the country.

«SOUTH-OIL» adheres to the principles of continuous development and growth of both the company and the workforce, and encourages the initiatives of its employees. One striking example is the implementation of a project for exploration and production of shale oil and gas.

The geological survey of «SOUTH-OIL» performed systematic and thorough collection and processing of various geological information, to confirm the oil and gas potential of oil-source sediments. The foreign research institutes were involved in the work, particularly the «RN BashNIPIneft». As a result of geological exploration, oil and gas content of source beds of the Karagansay strata were found for the first time. The oil and gas content was confirmed by both core data and oil inflow during testing.

2022 г.

In March 2022, «SOUTH-OIL» has arranged a roundtable discussion on «Promising outlook of oil and gas content in the oil-bearing sediments of South Turgai sedimentary basin» with the involvement of representatives of the Senate of the RK, Ministry of Energy of the RK, Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the RK, Committee of Geology of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, JSC NC «KazMunayGas», «Kazenergy» Association. In the process of round table work and further discussion of the report of Mukhametrakhimov Shaykhan Kayratovich, Vice President of Geology and Field Development of the «SOUTH-OIL» LLP, All participants of the meeting had an unequivocally positive attitude to completed activity. The senators who took part in the round table announced an initiative to introduce the concept of «unconventional hydrocarbons» into the applicable legislation of Kazakhstan in the area of subsurface use.

RK Law «Concerning introduction of amendments and additions to specific legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Electricity, Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency, Subsoil Use, Local Public Administration, State Border, Housing and Science» of June 30, 2022 introduced the concept of «unconventional hydrocarbons» to the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On Subsoil and Subsoil Use», including the concepts of «shale oil», «shale gas», «natural bitumen» «coalbed methane» and «gas extracted from gas hydrates».

On February 02, 2023, by the Order of Acting Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development No. 71 methods of classification of field reserves and inferred resources, instruction on calculation of reserves of minerals, including those related to unconventional hydrocarbons, developed jointly by employees of «SOUTH- OIL» LLP and various research institutes following a working meeting organized by «SOUTH-OIL» LLP in Shymkent approved.

2023

On February 22, 2023, in the framework of the meeting of the State Commission on Mineral Reserves of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the Committee on Geology of Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure development, «SOUTH-OIL» Company defended the report «Calculation of shale oil reserves of Karagansay area of unconventional hydrocarbon sources located in Karaganda and Kyzylorda regions of the RK».

Therefore, the very first and most important step towards the possibility of exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbons was taken in national history. And «SOUTH- OIL» became the first Kazakhstani company, which plans the large-scale exploration and production of shale oil and gas.

In 20 years, Company has become a large enterprise, which cooperates with many reputable international companies, implements the projects of public private partnership, attracts investments for development of the regions of presence.

The company’s 20th anniversary year was another milestone in its development – «Non-governmental charitable foundation named after Serikzhan Seitzhanov» is established this year. The primary objective of the Foundation is comprehensive support of education projects. After all, that’s how the intergenerational continuity is created — youth absorbs the wisdom of their ancestors, rethinks their experience with the latest trends and innovation, and continue to develop the country