JKX Prepares for Fracking in Rudenkovskoye

British explorer JKX Oil & Gas says it is ready to proceed with hydraulic fracturing at a license in Ukraine.

The company issued a statement about pogress in the Rudenkovskoye deep tight-gas field near Poltava, Ukraine. It also announced good results at Elizavetovskoye field, also in Ukraine. First gas there is expected in the fourth quarter of 2013.

It reports a nine-stage fracture stimulation project on the 1-km horizontal section of well R-103.

"The preparation and extension of the R-103 well site has now been completed including preparation of roads and load area for the frac fleet comprising 14,000hp of pump trucks, full well test spread, coiled tubing services, materials handling and laboratory services. Additional water wells have been drilled and three large frac-pits constructed. The complete well-site is now ready for operations," the statement said.

The large frac materials order is placed and includes 1,200 tons of proppant and over 100 tons of other chemicals and consumables, the company said. Field operations are due to start in May.

The frac operation itself is scheduled to take at least one month, with further time needed for the well to clean up. Meaningful results from the frac should be available around late July, JKX says.

JKX's wholly-owned subsidiary, Poltava Petroleum Company, holds a 20-year production license for the Rudenkovskoye field. 

The company has interests in Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.