OREANDA-NEWS. On April 14, 2008 deep exploration drilling has started on Lengupa structure under the Condor project, implemented by LUKOIL Overseas (70%) and Ecopetrol National Oil Company (30%), reported the press-centre of LUKOIL Overseas.

The Agreement on Condor block was signed on April 7, 2002. The agreement covers exploration operations at the block over a period of six years and field development over 22 years in case of a commercial discovery. The area of the block is 3089 square kilometers. LUKOIL Overseas Colombia Ltd. is the project operator, with its office located in Bogota, the capital of Colombia. Condor is located in the foothill of Eastern Cordillera in the western part of Llanos oil & gas basin and is one of the largest exploration blocks in Colombia.

Lengupa-1 well is located on the dome of Lengupa structure, which is located in Paratebueno municipality in the state of Cundinamarca. Design vertical depth of the well is 2700 meters ; the elevation of the well site is 950 meters above the sea level. The drilling rig contract was signed with Nabors International, an American company, based on tender results. Presumably, the drilling will last for 4,5 months. It will be the fist time, when LUKOIL Overseas uses casing pipe technology while constructing the well, which means that the well casing is done simultaneously with the drilling process. It increases footage rate and mitigates the risk of emergencies.

Based on results of the deep exploration well drilling an oil field possessing commercial reserves was discovered on Medina structure of Condor block in 2007. This field is currently being prepared for commercial operations.