NIS, Zarubezhneft begin drilling first well in Republika Srpska
MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax) - Jadran Naftagas, a joint venture between Russian Zarubezhneft and Serbian NIS, which is owned by Gazprom Neft , has begun drilling a first oil well in Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zarubezhneft said in a statement.
Work conducted in 2010-2012 made it possible to prepare for drilling in 2013 at the promising Obudovac structure in the Posavina sub-basin and A-1 in the Semberija sub-basin, it says. The first well is at Obudovac-2. When that well is completed, drilling will begin at A-1.
In addition, seismic surveying - 400 running kilometers - will be conducted this year in the Prijedor sub-basin.
Speaking at the ceremony dedicated to the start to drilling, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik praised cooperation in geological exploration with Gazprom Neft and Zarubezhneft. "I am happy that Republika Srpska has reliable partners in the form of Gazprom and Zarubezhneft. I would like to take the opportunity to recommend that the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina begin cooperation in exploration with these two companies," Dodik is quoted in the statement as saying.
Zarubezhneft has a 34% interest in Jadran Naftagas and NIS has 66%. Production could reach 700,000-750,000 tonnes of oil a year. The two companies believe that the sections might contain a field with over 10 million tonnes of recoverable reserves.
