KHARKIV, Dec. 19 - Shell will begin drilling the first exploration well on the Yuzivska field in the first half of 2014, Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Oleh Proskuriakov said.

"In the first half of the year the first well has to be started, drilling will commence," he said at a briefing in Kharkiv.

According to the official, company experts are currently in the process of selecting the best location for drilling the well.