Specialists are studying the causes of an oil-containing fluid seepage at the M-25 (25 Years of Independence) gas field in Baysun district of Surkhandarya region. Photos and videos of the incident appeared on social media in early January.
Gazeta learned that the first release of a black fluid — a mixture of oil, gas and water — was recorded on 22 December. This occurred at the site of a gryphon, a fluid discharge point formed decades ago during geological exploration in the area.
A well known as Gajak-9, drilled in 1974−1975, lies 100−120 meters from the site. During drilling, Cretaceous and Aptian (Lower Cretaceous) deposits (2,500 m) were penetrated. They are typically located above oil and gas-bearing layers.
Two days later, on 24 December, fluid began to emerge from a second point in a nearby small river, approximately 30 meters from the first site.
Oil seepage from the second point. Photo: Gazeta.
Pits were dug around both points to collect the fluid. Additional pits were then created. The fluid was transported using specialized equipment to dedicated reservoirs.
By 31 December, the fluid release from the first point ceased. To date, a five-stage system of pits has been built in the river. By 3 January, 748 cubic meters of fluid had been removed, with a daily discharge rate of 50−60 cubic meters. Analysis showed that the liquid consisted of 28% water and 71.63% organic matter.
Specialists suggested that the likely cause was the opening of gas channels to the surface from previously formed gryphons. Under the influence of carbon dioxide, the bituminous oil layer above the gas reserves may have liquefied, leading to its release at the surface.
The well at M-25 where the gas leak occurred, 15 September 2024. Photo: Gazeta.
The oil seepage occurred near well 604 of the M-25 field, where a gas leak with high hydrogen sulfide content occurred on 1 September 2024. Residents of the nearby village were evacuated. The leak was stopped in mid-September but resumed two days later, resulting in 4 deaths and 11 injuries. Since then, dozens of places where gas is leaking have been observed in the area.
