Kazakhstan-focused oil and gas firm Max Petroleum provided an update on drilling at the NUR-1 pre-salt well at the Emba B prospect on Block E.

Max reported that it has successfully sidetracked the well around drilling tools that became stuck in early April. After setting intermediate casing at a depth of 18,650 feet (5,683 meters), the company will drill ahead through a thin layer of salt using high density drilling mud designed to handle the high pressure transition in the salt window.

Once through the salt, Max will set another short section of casing prior to the well penetrating the exploration objectives in the Carboniferous and Devonian. The company expects the well to reach total depth of 23,790 feet (7,250 meters) in June 2012.

Tags: Max Petroleum Plc