A subsidiary of ExxonMobil and Romanian oil and gas group Petrom has started drilling on the first deepwater exploration well in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea.
Domino-1 in the Neptun Block is being drilled by sixth generation drillship Deepwater Champion.
Success in the region could “fundamentally change the perspective of the Romanian energy sector”, said a spokesman from Petrom.
“Exploration drilling, especially in such frontier, unexplored areas as the deepwater Black Sea, may or may not result in a discovery,” said Johann Pleininger, Petrom’s executive board member responsible for exploration and production.
“If commercial discoveries are made, the development of the Neptun Block would yield significant positive industrial, social and economic benefits for Romania.
“Deepwater exploration carries high investment risks and requires investments of several hundred million US dollars, yet a potential success would fundamentally change the perspective of the Romanian energy sector.”
The Deepwater Champion recently moved from a drilling programme offshore Turkey. Drilling operations on Domino-1 are expected to take about 90 days.
Semi-state owned Petrom is 51% owned by OMV, an industrial firm listed in Austria.