ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom Explore New Prospect Offshore Romania

BUCHAREST--ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) Monday said they are drilling an exploration well on a new prospect about 155 kilometers offshore in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea, news agency Mediafax reported.

ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Ltd., the Romanian unit of the U.S. oil giant, and OMV Petrom, the largest oil and gas company in Romania, have started drilling the Pelican South-1 exploration well on a new prospect in the Neptun Block, the companies said in a statement.

The well will test a new geological structure on the Neptun Block. Earlier in October, the Ocean Endeavour rig completed drilling of the Domino-2 well and data from the well are being evaluated, the statement said.

In February 2012, ExxonMobil and Petrom announced the discovery of a natural gas field estimated at 42-84 billion cubic meters following the drilling of a first well in the block.

ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania and OMV Petrom each hold 50% of the deepwater sector of the Neptun Block.