The wildcat is targeting the Savannah prospect on Block SL-5-11, located in waters more than 2000 metres deep in the Sierra Leone-Liberia basin.
Lukoil Overseas has contracted the Ocean Rig semi-submersible Eirik Raude to drill the well, which has a target depth of more than 4700 metres.
It is the first in a four-well drilling programme for Lukoil off West Africa, with the option for two more.
