Ruspetro’s Vostochno-Inginsky license in the Western Siberia region of the Russian Federation has been extended by 20 years to June 2034 by the Federal Subsoil Resources Management Agency, the company said. The license was due to expire in June 2014 prior to the extension.

The company also reported the commencement of drilling operations from Pad 23b following the spud of its first multistage fractured horizontal well on the Pottymsko-Inginsky license block. This well—designated #214—is being drilled within the Schlumberger technical partnership agreement.