DANA Petroleum has flowed oil, sooner than expected, from its Sortymskoye oil field, in west Siberia. The flow rates have exceeded predictions. Dana and YUKOS, Russia's second largest oil company, are the lead participants in the project, each with a 30 per cent shareholding.

Dana's chief executive, Mr Tom Cross said the eventual flow rate should be at least double and maybe treble the existing levels. The wells are expected to be opened up early next year. That, he said, was about 18 months ahead of the prediction Dana made in its prospectus. This is the second field that Dana has brought into production in west Siberia. Through its Russian subsidiary, YoganOil, it completed the drilling of a new production well on its south Vat Yoganskoye field.