Noble awarded drillship contract for Black Sea exploration
OMV Petrom and NewMed Energy have awarded a drilling rig contract to Noble Corporation for the drilling of two offshore exploration wells in the Black Sea, offshore Bulgaria.
Two exploration wells will be drilled on the Han-Asparuh Block with the selected ultra-deepwater drillship, Globetrotter I. Halliburton and SLB will provide associated drilling services.
“We are excited to move forward with this important phase of our exploration program in Bulgaria,” said Cristian Hubati, member of OMV Petrom Executive Board, responsible for E&P. “This contract underscores our commitment to investing in the region’s energy potential and to working closely with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible operations.”
“We are excited about the opportunities NewMed has in Bulgaria alongside our partners and remain committed to advancing drilling operations in the license we hold together with OMV Petrom," said Yossi Abu, CEO of NewMed Energy. "The agreement announced today brings us one step closer to unlocking the potential we see in this license.”
The two wells will be drilled on the Han-Asparuh Block.
The drilling campaign is expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year and last approximately four months. The value of the rig contract is approximately $80 million (USD).
The integrated drilling services will be provided by Halliburton and the well testing services will be provided by SLB.
Total drilling budget expected at approximately EUR 170 million.
This initiative aligns with Bulgaria’s broader energy diversification goals and has the potential to contribute significantly to regional energy security.
Han Asparuh
Han Asparuh is an exploration block located in the western Black Sea in Bulgaria, south of the Neptun Deep block in Romania and has an area of 13,712 km² with water depths slightly below 2,000 m. Exploration activities started in 2012 and included geological and geophysical surveys and the drilling of three exploration wells. An extensive 3D seismic campaign was finalized in May 2020 to identify potential drilling targets.
