In addition, a pumping trial at the Koryčany well is being completed these days, which will determine whether the project has been successful. By all accounts, the well should be positive, as it is a deposit that is relatively well explored, albeit quite complicated. From a depth of 1 900 metres we should start producing oil.

"This is the severalth well drilled into the deposit, and the saturation and contacts between oil and water or oil and gas are known," says Tomáš Baldrián, head of the geology department.

Work on the Mikulov 3 well, which was originally scheduled to start next year, will begin in December. The target depth is similar to that of Koryčany, at 1,770 metres, and production is to be from 1,650 metres. Probe number 3 is in close proximity to Mikulov 5.

"Five has already reached production and three is targeting the neighbouring cru. The chances there are relatively good, but it's still just exploration. It may turn out that the kra has leaked and we have already produced all the gas with five," Baldrian points out.

The advantage is that Mikulov 3 can start producing immediately because the connection is right next door, so there is no need to build anything. And since the neighbouring probe has completed production, there is not much to wait for. Mikulov 3 should thus contribute to the production plan next year, as it should be productive in a few months.

According to the approved financial plan, the geologists are planning to start the Dambořice 9a well in the first half of the year, which is a deviation from the "Dambořice 9". There will then be a short break and in the second half of the year we will start a campaign of shallow drilling in the Dubňany and Skoronic area. These will be the first wells of the latest 3D seismic survey. "For the first campaign we have selected the Skoronice 1 and 2 projects. They target both oil and gas and are the easiest to access. If they are positive, other projects will follow," predicts Tomas Baldrian.

In addition, Hodonín geologists are now working intensively on data interpretation at the Zukivska licence in Ukraine, where 3D seismic measurements were carried out earlier this year. They intend to mark the targets later this year and plan to drill the first exploration well next year.

"This is high quality data showing structures associated with the salt plume. We expect to prepare two to three projects with significant potential," concludes geologist Tomas Baldrián.