Romanian offshore drilling contractor GSP Offshore has secured a drilling contract for two offshore wells in the Black Sea.
The company, hired by Black Sea Oil & Gas (BSOG), will use the GSP Uranus jack-up rig to drill the two exploration wells in the XV Midia Shallow block, offshore Romania.
The drilling, in water depths of up to 100 meters, is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2017.
GSP has also won a contract to provide auxiliary services such as aviation, logistics and offshore service vessels to support the drilling operations.
Mark Beacom , BSOG Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Midia Block Concession Holders are targeting prospects that not only could add to the resource base of the Concession Holders but, more importantly, could feed the Midia Gas Development Project currently consisting of the Ana and Doina discoveries that is currently heading towards development approval.”
BSOG has shared it is currently obtaining all the approvals required to develop the Midia Gas Development Project. These approvals include NAMR and ANRE approvals, environmental and construction approvals and authorizations from local and national authorities, Transgaz approval as well as shareholder and partner approvals.
Although there are many regulatory challenges ahead the partner group is targeting obtaining these approvals in 2017. Once this has been achieved then it will take a further 2 years to build the offshore platform, drill the development wells, lay the offshore and onshore pipelines and construct the Gas treatment plant,” the company said.