The pace of exploration is picking up in Romania's offshore and onshore sectors.
Enterprise Oil Exploration Ltd., London, signed an exploration and production sharing agreement with state owned Rompetrol SA for two Black Sea blocks, Nos. XIII and XV, covering 3,000 sq km and 4,000 sq km, respectively.
Shell Romania Exploration BY agreed with Rompetrol on an exploration and production sharing agreement for onshore Block 10. This covers 6,150 sq km in northern Transylvania. Shell's target will be deep formations underlying producing gas zones.
OFFSHORE ROMANIA
Enterprise has a 65% share as operator of Blocks XIII and XV, while partner CanadianOxy (Romania) Ltd. holds the remaining 35%. Exploration and development costs will be borne by the license partners, while Rompetrol will take a share of any production.
The agreement is for an initial 5 year exploration period, with extensions possible. It allows production for 25 years from the start of the agreement and includes seismic survey and drilling obligations.
Enterprise intends to conduct about 5,000 line km of seismic surveys over the two blocks starting late this year. With the normal lead times for analysis of data, the company expects to start drilling in 1994. There is an allowance for an interchange of drilling requirements between the blocks.
The blocks lie north and south of Lebada oil field, which is producing about 10,000 b/d of 35 gravity crude. Recoverable reserves are thought to be 50 million bbl.
Two other discoveries are near Lebada, bringing total estimated reserves for the three fields up to 100-150 million bbl of oil.
lain Paterson, Enterprise exploration director, called the Black Sea "one of Enterprise's core areas" for exploration.
"With the new acreage in Romania complementing our existing licenses in Bulgaria and Turkey, we are now one of the largest holders of acreage in the Black Sea," he said.
Romania's onshore acreage is largely under license, while acreage in the Black Sea is lightly explored.
ONSHORE ROMANIA
Shell's contract is for a 5 year program of seismic surveying, geological studies, and exploratory drilling at a cost of about $40 million. It includes technology transfer, access to modern equipment, and training of Romanians at home and abroad.
Rompetrol will become involved in the event of a commercial discovery. This could include investment in development, with a share of oil and gas production.
Shell's agreement, a result of license bidding round organized by Rompetrol, has been under negotiation since June 1991.
An Amoco Corp. unit earlier struck an exploration agreement with Rompetrol covering a tract in the Carpathian Mountains (OGJ, Aug. 10, p. 25).
OFFSHORE BULGARIA
Meantime, farther south in the Black Sea, activity is simmering off Bulgaria.
Enterprise is an equal partner with the Committee of Geology and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Bulgaria (Commgeo) in Block 11 and acts as operator. Other Enterprise interests include 25% shares and operatorships in Blocks IV and VI.
The company has conducted about 3,200 km of seismic surveys, which it is processing with a view to drilling in 1994.
It also owns a 20% interest in Block III, along with operator Texaco Inc. 20%, Commgeo 50%, and OMV Aktiengesellschaft of Austria 10%. Texaco is preparing to drill this block in first quarter 1993.
To the east, Texaco operates the Sinop License 1P84 off Turkey in a 50-50 partnership with Enterprise. Seismic surveys have been completed on this block, which covers 7,500 sq km.
BLACK SEA CONDITIONS
Weather and water depths are not likely to cause problems to oil companies operating in the Black Sea.
The weather is mild. Water depths, off Romania at least, are no more than 120 m.
"There are a number of rigs from previous Soviet operations in the Black Sea," said Tom Newman, general manager, international, for Enterprise.
Status of the ex-Soviet rigs is uncertain. Some are based in the Ukraine and the new republics, while others remain in Russia.
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