Fossil Energy – Black Sea
OMV Petrom and NewMed Energy Balkan have announced the signing of a rig contract for the drilling of two offshore exploration wells in the Black Sea, offshore Bulgaria.
The contract was awarded to Noble Corporation’s 6th Gen 10,000-ft drillship, Noble Globetrotter I, currently in the US Gulf.
The rig owner stated earlier this year that it was no longer bidding its Noble Globetrotter I and Noble Globetrotter II units into drilling markets, except for a niche market like the Black Sea. Instead, the rig owner is bidding these two units on well intervention jobs.
The two Black Sea wells will be drilled on the Han-Asparuh Block, which covers an area of 13,712 sq km with water depths around 6,500 ft.
The drilling campaign is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2025 and last approximately four months. The value of the rig contract is approximately $80 million.
The integrated drilling services will be provided by Halliburton, and the well testing services will be provided by SLB.
