The acquisition of 3D seismic in the Black Sea offshore Bulgaria has started and Melrose Resources Plc is planning for 2D and 3D seismic surveys offshore Romania.

The planned 3D seismic survey on the Galata exploration block in the western Black Sea has begun. Approximately 500 sq km of seismic data will be acquired over the central area of the concession, which contains the Chaika prospect with prospective resources of 80 billion cubic feet {Bcf} (P50) and a 26% chance of success.  There are two other exploration leads in the area. The survey is expected to be completed in late November.

Melrose received formal notification from the Romanian government that the agreements for the Muridava (EX-27) and Est Cobalcescu  (EX-28) offshore exploration licenses have been ratified by the Council of Ministers with an effective date of Oct. 24.

The company is preparing to issue tenders to acquire approximately 900 km of 2D and 1,300 sq km of 3D seismic data over the two blocks in summer 2012.

The main focus of the Muridava acquisition program will be Eocene and Cretaceous prospects located in the same play as the existing Olimpiskiyi discovery and Lebada oil fields. The East Cobalcescu survey will target the Miocene and Pliocene gas plays on trend with the Cobalcescu, Ana and Doina discoveries.

The company is also active in Egypt with the North East Abu Zahra-2 production well, which was drilled as a high-angle wellbore to maximize gas productivity.  It will be perforated across 112 ft of high quality sandstone with an average porosity of 17%. The well will shortly be tied back for production and will be flowed at a restricted rate of approximately 15 million cubic feet per day to maximize gas recovery. 

Some operational delays were experienced while drilling the North East Abu Zahra-2 well, which may impact the sequence of the near-term drilling program with the EDC-9 drill rig.

The rig will move next to drill the West Khillala-8 horizontal production well prior to drilling either the South Khilala-2 production well or relocating to the South East Mansoura concession to drill the Hajarisah-1 exploration well to test the Cretaceous oil play.

Source: E&P