Preliminary drilling at a development well near Zalata is scheduled to start in one month's time. The value of this well is estimated at five million US dollars.
According to INA and MOL experts, the natural gas deposits are about 1.5 billion cubic metres.
The area which will be probed in search for natural gas deposits covers some 50 square kilometres, and part of it belongs to Croatia's territory and part is in Hungary.
In case the discovered natural gas in the area can be commercially used, the INA and MOL companies will continue investigating possibilities for the connection of this natural gas field with the high-pressure gas pipe system.
A possible profit will be shared equally by the two companies.
On this occasion, INA's official Mirko Zelic, who signed the agreement in the Hungarian town of Zalaegerszeg, again refuted allegations that Hungarian officials in the INA management were opposed to the modernisation of two INA oil refineries in Croatia.
"Neither the INA management nor Hungarian members of the management or the supervisory board have ever been against the modernisation of the refineries. They have always supported strategic projects for INA's future," Zelic said.