At 10:00 a.m. on December 10, 2025, the full length of the main trunk road of ZPEC’s Coastal Oilfield in Kazakhstan was opened to traffic. Stretching 13 kilometers and completed in 180 days, the road will significantly improve the transportation efficiency and production support capacity of the oilfield. It provides solid backing for the regular operations of multiple drilling and workover teams in the Coastal Oilfield. Additionally, it lays a solid transportation foundation for the subsequent drilling and production operations of multiple wells including the achievement of reserves and production growth targets.

As a core transportation artery of the Coastal Oilfield, the main trunk road is a critical infrastructure supporting rig relocation, material transportation, employee commuting, and the coordinated operation of various work teams. The project was carried out in two phases in an orderly manner. The Phase I Project broke ground on June 10 this year and was successfully completed in only 81 days, ahead of the Caspian Sea flood season. The Phase II Project followed suit with intensive construction efforts, enabling the entire project to achieve full-line connection smoothly in just 180 days.

As a core transportation artery of the Coastal Oilfield, the main trunk road is a critical infrastructure supporting rig relocation, material transportation, employee commuting, and the coordinated operation of various work teams. The project was carried out in two phases in an orderly manner. The Phase I Project broke ground on June 10 this year and was successfully completed in only 81 days, ahead of the Caspian Sea flood season. The Phase II Project followed suit with intensive construction efforts, enabling the entire project to achieve full-line connection smoothly in just 180 days.

During the construction period, nearly 100 Chinese and Kazakh staff members worked on the project. In summer, they faced head-on challenges such as raging sandstorms, scorching heat, and muddy road surfaces in the rainy season. In winter, they properly coped with harsh cold temperatures and the high difficulty of outdoor operations, sparing no effort to overcome various construction obstacles. In response to complex geological conditions, including saline-alkali soil and soft soil layers, innovative measures were adopted to optimize the subgrade structure, such as laying geotextiles and adding lime soil and gravel for reinforcement. Meanwhile, waste materials were ingeniously repurposed to make reflective road stakes, enhancing the safety factor of night driving, and a 24-hour shift system was implemented for construction work. Under the leadership of Project Manager Chen Yuqiang, Chinese and Kazakh employees worked hand-in-hand to tackle tough problems, fully demonstrating the fine tradition of ZPEC’s "Iron-Army" that dares to take on hard tasks. In the end, they successfully achieved the construction targets of all phases.

(by Zhang Jiantao, Drilling Company / photos by Chen Yuqiang)