KIEV, Oct. 23 – Naftogaz Ukrayiny has finished 3D seismology on the Pallas zone of the Black Sea shelf, Deputy Chairman Vadym Chuprun said.

"We conducted 2D and 3D seismology. We've finished it, and now it is being interpreted. Next year we'll be ready to drill," he told reporters in Kiev.

He said that a tender to buy another two semi-submersible floating drilling rigs from Singapore's Keppel Fels failed to take place. Without the rigs it is impossible to start works on the zone, he said.