Ireland-based Caspian explorer Dragon Oil has increased its first-half 2007 production by 52 percent to 28,300 barrels of oil per day, with an eighth new well planned for month’s end.

The drilling and pipeline building cost $100M during the first six months of 2007, but 5.1 million barrels of oil were produced with a realised price of $61.2 per barrel.

Three development wells — 21/117 and A/119 and 13/118 — were completed during the first-half of the year and a 50,000 bopd facility was commissioned to accept the flows of new infield pipelines.