Turkmenistan: Gas Wells Lie Idle Because of Pipeline Blast

Work has stopped at 195 gas wells due to an explosion on a key export pipeline back in April, Turkmenistan's chief geologist says.

Gas production has ground to a virtual halt, according to the Turkmen official, Odek Odekov. "Because gas transportation was stopped, we had to close down 195 wells, it was inevitable," he says.

Although the pipeline is now repaired, exports to Russia remain mostly cut off because of "commercial" differences. Odekov indicated that Ashgabat may seek to have an international arbiter rule on culpability for the pipeline explosion, Russian news agency quoted him as saying on May 29. "The parties cannot agree who will take the blame. If the parties can agree, then [the matter] will not be submitted to international arbitration," Odekov said.

The explosion on the Davletbat-Dariyalyk pipeline, also known as the CAC-4, on April 9 ended exports of Turkmen gas to Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled energy giant. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The incident sparked a diplomatic spat, with both sides refusing to take responsibility for the accident. Gazprom initially insisted Turkmenistan's worn out infrastructure had caused the blast. Turkmenistan said Gazprom had initially not warned of an impending decrease in pressure. Ashgabat then accused the company of causing the explosion on purpose.