Matra Petroleum announced that the A-13 well, on the Arkhangelovskoe License in Orenburg, Russia, spud on October 25, 2009.

The well is the first appraisal of the Sokolovskoe Field discovered by Matra's A-12 well in 2007, and will be drilled to an up-dip location, testing the crest of the structure. The well will be drilled to 3850m, taking approximately 120 days in total and cost $4.5 million (excluding VAT).

Matra's Managing Director, Peter Hind said, "We are pleased to have started well A-13, which is a very significant well for us. We expect to have results early in the New Year."