Kazakhstan’s crude output fell 10% in October after maintenance curbed flows at the Chevron-led Tengiz field, according to an industry source cited by a Reuters report. Crude production averaged about 1.69 million barrels per day, while combined crude and condensate totaled 8.016 million metric tons, down from 8.345 million tons in September.
Work at Tengiz ran from early October through October 24 and reduced field output to roughly 725,000 barrels per day from about 964,000 barrels per day in September, the source said.
Despite the decline, Kazakhstan stayed above its OPEC+ quota of 1.556 million barrels per day. The energy ministry and Tengizchevroil did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported.
October volumes were also influenced by outages tied to a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Orenburg gas processing plant that disrupted handling of gas from Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak condensate field, as reported by Reuters. Operators at Karachaganak earlier cut production by roughly a quarter as flows to Orenburg were curtailed.
Pipeline exports via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium continued, with a separate Reuters report noting that Tengiz volumes to Türkiye’s Ceyhan port would resume in November after prior adjustments.
The production dip comes as Brent futures trade in the mid-$60s, steady after recent volatility. Prices have been supported by tighter regional supply and stronger Asian refinery demand, even as global risk sentiment and currency pressure weigh on broader markets. Analysts said Kazakhstan’s reduced output could lend marginal support to Brent if maintenance overruns or if gas-processing constraints persist into November.
Separately, Kazakhstan has reopened talks with ExxonMobil on a potential next phase at the offshore Kashagan field, one of the world’s largest and most complex projects. Further details on October field-level data and November guidance are awaited from the energy ministry and project operators.
By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com
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