Swedish oil and gas firm Lundin Petroleum has begun drilling exploration well Makouala Marine-1, which is located offshore Congo in the Marine XIV block.

The company will drill the well to a total depth of 2,700m below mean sea level.

The well will be drilled with the semi-submersible drilling rig ENSCO 5003, and the work will take 30 days.

Lundin Petroleum holds a 21.55% stake in the licence, which is operated by SOCO International.