With most of its exploration and production focus in Central Europe, Carpathian said Ja-11 would target the same Karpat Sandstone Reservoir as the Janovice-3a gas discovery made in 2004, 1.5km to the northwest. It said the latest prospect held a potential 6.5 billion cubic feet of gas.

“Ja11 is only 1 km from the recently constructed pipeline linking Ja3a (60% owned by Carpathian) to the gas transmission system, which means only a short spur-line connection would be required in the event of the well reaching production,” said company director Douglas Jendry.

He estimated the well would take about one month to complete and carry out preliminary testing.

Participants in Janovice (Ja11) and (Ja3a) are: Nord Gas Ostrava s.r.o.(60% - wholly owned subsidiary of Carpathian) and Unigeo a.s. (40%).