While the wells that have been drilled so far have not produced commercial quantities of crude oil, the three companies currently involved in the exploration efforts still have high hopes of finding it. The Listin Diario says that Maleno, Once-Once and Murfin are all studying the results of their drilling. Located in the Azua, Enriquillo and Cibao basins, the oil companies are looking for gas and oil, and have invested millions of dollars in their quest. Murfin Dominicana has devoted over US$10 million to their research, and this, according to the director general of mining, is proof of the intensity with which the search is being conducted. Octavio Lopez says that the first stages have been concluded and after carrying out the analyses required, there will be four more exploratory wells drilled. The official has continually warned the general public not to get too excited about these events in order not to create false hopes. In the event, three of the wells in the Azua basin may have petroleum in what might be commercial quantities. While company representatives are being very tight-lipped about the amounts involved, a source told the Listin Diario that there are good indications of considerable quantities of crude within reach, and the country might well receive some good news sooner rather than later.