From discoverer to legislator
Ural Akchulakovich Akchulakov is perhaps more involved in the 120th anniversary of the start of oil production in Kazakhstan than anyone else.
Born into the family of a builder of one of the first oil pipelines in the country, he devoted his life to the study of the subsoil and became one of the founders of domestic geological exploration.
He also became the discoverer of a number of oil and gas fields and co-author of many laws in the field of subsoil use.
Born into the family of a builder of one of the first oil pipelines in the country, he devoted his life to the study of the subsoil and became one of the founders of domestic geological exploration.
He also became the discoverer of a number of oil and gas fields and co-author of many laws in the field of subsoil use.
– Tell us how a new site with black gold deposits is discovered? How long does it take until an open field is put into operation?
The discovery of oil and gas fields is a very complex process. As a rule, it is the result of collective thinking and work, and not one person. All judgments about the prospects of individual subsoil areas are based on a deep knowledge of the patterns of their formation and the presence of analogues in world practice and on a critical analysis of the exploration work being carried out. Sometimes it is necessary to make an original decision, to convince your colleagues, despite their objections. So persistence usually leads to success. As they say, winners are not judged.
However, an open field should not be put into operation until the industrial reserves of all deposits, all areas are fully clarified, production capabilities, operation methods, and full capacitive-filtration characteristics of productive formations are established. Only after this, the reserves of oil, gas dissolved in oil, free gas of gas formations and gas cap are approved by the state reserves commission and included in the state balance of reserves. And only then do operational works begin at the field.
– Observing the development of the industry from the inside, how would you assess the different stages of the formation of the Kazakh oil industry? How different were the working conditions in Soviet times and during the years of Independence?
In Soviet times, the search for oil and gas fields and their development were financed from the state budget in accordance with the state plan, five-year programs, annual plans of scientific organizations and manufacturing enterprises. To implement these plans, there was a three-tier structure: the industry ministry of the republic – the production association of the region – expeditions or oil and gas production offices. Each production association included all the service divisions that carried out the planned types of work.
During the years of Independence, this system changed dramatically due to the market economy. All exploration and production work is financed by investors. Subsoil user companies acquire a subsoil plot or deposit on a competitive basis, followed by a contract with the competent government body for a certain period of time. The state retains the right to monitor the fulfillment of obligations assumed under the contract.
– How would you rate the level of professionalism of specialists from these two different eras?
In Soviet times, it was common practice to have an internship, when each young specialist was assigned to an experienced specialist, and he did not have the right to quit for up to three years. And practically during these three years he became more or less sensible, because each young specialist encounters facts that do not fit into the theory, the knowledge that is indicated in books. Moreover, each region has its own peculiarities in geological structure. Such a process ensured a very high level of knowledge and training of specialists. During the years of Independence, we, unfortunately, lost this geological school of ours.
– After many years of field work, you were actively involved in lawmaking in the field of subsoil use, learned and disseminated the experience of other countries. Tell us about this period of your career, please.
After the collapse of Soviet society, it was necessary to develop new legislation. We started this new work from scratch. At that time, I worked as the Head of the Main Oil and Gas Department of the Ministry of Geology and Subsoil Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Numerous employees of various ministries, scientists began to study the legislative acts of the capitalist countries of the world - America, Canada, England, Holland, Japan, Turkey, Germany and others. Everyone has different laws. Therefore, having studied them, we began to develop laws in the field of subsoil use applicable to the conditions of Kazakhstan.
The first legislative act "Law on Subsoil and Subsoil Use" was created relatively quickly and approved by the decree of President N.A. Nazarbayev. The development of the law on oil dragged on. Young lawyers who studied at foreign universities also took part in its creation. In total, 38 versions of this law were developed, and it was the 38th version that was approved. Based on these laws, numerous legislative acts and instructions were developed. After which a lot of work was done to explain them in the regions.
Speaking about the experience of other countries, I would like to mention the Netherlands. Regardless of where they worked, they put in place a fairly competent policy and with high environmental protection. Or when we were at an oil field in Germany. There, in the area of separating water from oil, there was a small pool where this water was pumped out. And fish swam in this water. This is the attitude to the issue.
– You are the author of the Oil Encyclopedia of Kazakhstan, many other scientific works, some of which were awarded state prizes. Tell
The discovery of oil and gas fields is a very complex process. As a rule, it is the result of collective thinking and work, and not one person. All judgments about the prospects of individual subsoil areas are based on a deep knowledge of the patterns of their formation and the presence of analogues in world practice and on a critical analysis of the exploration work being carried out. Sometimes it is necessary to make an original decision, to convince your colleagues, despite their objections. So persistence usually leads to success. As they say, winners are not judged.
However, an open field should not be put into operation until the industrial reserves of all deposits, all areas are fully clarified, production capabilities, operation methods, and full capacitive-filtration characteristics of productive formations are established. Only after this, the reserves of oil, gas dissolved in oil, free gas of gas formations and gas cap are approved by the state reserves commission and included in the state balance of reserves. And only then do operational works begin at the field.
– Observing the development of the industry from the inside, how would you assess the different stages of the formation of the Kazakh oil industry? How different were the working conditions in Soviet times and during the years of Independence?
In Soviet times, the search for oil and gas fields and their development were financed from the state budget in accordance with the state plan, five-year programs, annual plans of scientific organizations and manufacturing enterprises. To implement these plans, there was a three-tier structure: the industry ministry of the republic – the production association of the region – expeditions or oil and gas production offices. Each production association included all the service divisions that carried out the planned types of work.
During the years of Independence, this system changed dramatically due to the market economy. All exploration and production work is financed by investors. Subsoil user companies acquire a subsoil plot or deposit on a competitive basis, followed by a contract with the competent government body for a certain period of time. The state retains the right to monitor the fulfillment of obligations assumed under the contract.
– How would you rate the level of professionalism of specialists from these two different eras?
In Soviet times, it was common practice to have an internship, when each young specialist was assigned to an experienced specialist, and he did not have the right to quit for up to three years. And practically during these three years he became more or less sensible, because each young specialist encounters facts that do not fit into the theory, the knowledge that is indicated in books. Moreover, each region has its own peculiarities in geological structure. Such a process ensured a very high level of knowledge and training of specialists. During the years of Independence, we, unfortunately, lost this geological school of ours.
– After many years of field work, you were actively involved in lawmaking in the field of subsoil use, learned and disseminated the experience of other countries. Tell us about this period of your career, please.
After the collapse of Soviet society, it was necessary to develop new legislation. We started this new work from scratch. At that time, I worked as the Head of the Main Oil and Gas Department of the Ministry of Geology and Subsoil Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Numerous employees of various ministries, scientists began to study the legislative acts of the capitalist countries of the world - America, Canada, England, Holland, Japan, Turkey, Germany and others. Everyone has different laws. Therefore, having studied them, we began to develop laws in the field of subsoil use applicable to the conditions of Kazakhstan.
The first legislative act "Law on Subsoil and Subsoil Use" was created relatively quickly and approved by the decree of President N.A. Nazarbayev. The development of the law on oil dragged on. Young lawyers who studied at foreign universities also took part in its creation. In total, 38 versions of this law were developed, and it was the 38th version that was approved. Based on these laws, numerous legislative acts and instructions were developed. After which a lot of work was done to explain them in the regions.
Speaking about the experience of other countries, I would like to mention the Netherlands. Regardless of where they worked, they put in place a fairly competent policy and with high environmental protection. Or when we were at an oil field in Germany. There, in the area of separating water from oil, there was a small pool where this water was pumped out. And fish swam in this water. This is the attitude to the issue.
– You are the author of the Oil Encyclopedia of Kazakhstan, many other scientific works, some of which were awarded state prizes. Tell