Khazar-2 was spudded last week with the Lukoil-owned jack-up Astra, which was earlier used to drill two exploration wells in the area, project partner KazMunaiGaz said.
The company is appraising the area where it hit hydrocarbons with the first probe, Khazar-1, drilled in 2007.
The appraisal well's design depth is 2075 metres, with plans to complete it in 110 days.
The second well, Auezov-1, was also successful, although the discovered oil was heavy and viscuous compared with the light and low-sulphur quality crude at Khazar, company sources said.
According
