Russian oil major OAO Lukoil (LKOH.RS) and Kazakhstan's state-owned oil and gas company KazMunaiGaz will start drilling the first exploration well at the Atash field in Kazakhstan in April, news agency Prime-Tass reported Thursday citing Lukoil's deputy Chief Executive Ravil Maganov.
Lukoil also plans to start drilling a second well in Azerbaijan's Yalama region in November, Maganov said.
The company holds a 50% stake in the Atash field and an 80% stake in Yamala field, Prime-Tass said.
Maganov also said that Lukoil plans to start drilling this year at the Zapadno-Rakushechnoye field, which is located in Russia's Caspian Sea region.