KIEV, Dec. 10 – Shell and Ukrgazvydobuvannia under an agreement on joint operations started drilling a second exploratory well, Novo-Mechebylivska-100 (Blyzniuky district, Kharkiv region), to search for natural gas in sandstone, Shell reported on Monday.

The company said that it would take nine or 10 months to carry out the work. It is planned to drill to a depth of 5,000 meters. A rig of Saipem, an oil and gas industry contractor, is used at this vertical well.