Bulgaria

Continuous endeavor to explore for hydrocarbons

In 2012 the Bulgarian Government awarded the 1-21 Han Asparuh exploration Block located deep offshore in western part of the Black Sea to the consortium of OMV (30%), TotalEnergies (40%) and Repsol (30%).

Strategically well positioned next to the Romanian offshore Neptun Deep Block (Domino discovery – 1.5 – 3.0 TCF), the 13,819 km² block (in up to 2,000 m deep waters) offers additional potential to find hydrocarbons in the Western Black Sea Basin.

The first license period of five years contained an extensive exploration program operated by OMV. During the seismic acquisition phase, 7,740 km² of 3D and 3,000 km of 2D seismic were acquired thereby completing the largest ever 3D seismic acquisition campaign in the Black Sea as well as OMV’s largest operated seismic program. OMV handed over operatorship to TotalEnergies in 2014 when preparatory work for drilling of the first exploration well started.

In 2020, OMV Petrom completed the transaction for the acquisition of 100% of the shares in OMV Offshore Bulgaria GmbH from OMV Exploration & Production GmbH and enters the Han-Asparuh exploration block in Bulgaria.

Following Repsol’s exit (2019), the Bulgarian regulator approved the allocation of Repsol’s 30% participating interest to the remaining two partners.

Thus, OMV Petrom’s share in the block, via OMV Offshore Bulgaria GmbH, is now 42.86%, alongside TotalEnergies (57.14%) as operator. Currently farm-down activities are ongoing.

Polshkov-1, Rubin-1 and Melnik-1 

The first exploration well, Polshkov-1, was successfully drilled in 2016. This was followed up by the drilling of further exploration wells, Rubin-1 in 2017 and Melnik-1 in 2018.

3D seismic acquisition 

Encouraging results after drilling and seismic activities have prompted the joint venture to acquire 5,614 km² additional modern 3D seismic on the southeastern half of the block. The seismic acquisition program was completed in May 2020 and used the Shearwater Oceanic Vega seismic vessel. Seismic data processing is finalized (interpretation ongoing) and one drilling candidate has been selected. This candidate will be drilled in 2023 – 2024. In April 2022, the license for the Han Asparuh block was extended by two years until May 2024.

Facts / Milestones
 

• 2012 Bulgarian Government awarded Han Asparuh exploration block to the consortium of OMV, Total and Repsol
• 2016 Drilling of first exploration well Polshkov-1
• 2017 Drilling of second exploration well Rubin-1
• 2018 Drilling of third exploration well Melnik-1
• 2019 Repsol withdraws from JV
• 2020 OMV Petrom acquires OMV’s interest in Han Asparuh