OMV Petrom SA has discovered 30 million boe of recoverable crude oil and natural gas in the Oltenia and Muntenia regions of southern Romania, equivalent to around three quarters of OMV Petrom’s 2022 production. Exploration drilling and testing of the three wells involved took place between June 2022 and April 2023.
One of the discoveries was in the Verguleasa exploration area, in the Oltenia region. The company has identified crude oil resources there totaling around 20 million boe, describing it as its largest crude oil discovery in decades. OMV Petrom said the discovery’s proximity to another production area will allow for more rapid development.
Another discovery took place in the Târgoviște exploration block, where crude oil resources total an estimated 6 million boe. Successful testing was carried out in April 2023 and pre-exploitation work is in preparation, OMV Petrom said.
A third discovery was made in the Târgu Jiu exploration block, identifying natural gas resources of 7 million boe, equivalent to almost one third of Romania’s natural gas production in 2022, according to OMV Petrom. One follow-up well is already planned for next year and preparations for a tie-in are ongoing.
OMV Petrom is also nearing final investment decision on its Neptun Deep natural gas field in the Black Sea. The company would develop Neptun Deep and the accompanying 308-km Tuzla-Podisor export pipeline with state-owned Romgaz SA and Transgaz SA, respectively (OGJ Online, Apr. 3, 2023).
