Romania’s largest offshore gas development in the Black Sea is moving into a new stage, as OMV Petrom proceeds with preparations for an additional exploration well within the Neptun Deep concession. The company, which operates the project in partnership with state-owned Romgaz, has begun the permitting process for a drilling site referred to as Cormoran West.
Authorities have received applications for both environmental clearance and water management approvals related to the planned well, which is expected to be drilled in 2027. This timeline aligns with the anticipated start of gas production from the Pelican South and Domino fields, marking the official launch of output from Neptun Deep.
The proposed drilling location is situated approximately 100 kilometers from the Anaconda prospect, another exploration target within the same offshore block. Work on the Cormoran West well is expected to commence after operations at the Anaconda-1 well are completed, subject to sequencing and regulatory approvals. The purpose of the new well is to evaluate potential reserves and, if necessary, include testing activities depending on geological results.
Exploration at the Anaconda prospect has already progressed, with OMV Petrom recently obtaining environmental approval to begin drilling. Preliminary estimates indicate that the field could contain around 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas, underscoring its strategic relevance within the broader development.
To support ongoing exploration activities, the Romanian Government has extended the operational timeline for the Anaconda structure by two years, pushing the deadline to December 2027. At the same time, the budget allocated for this phase has been revised upward, increasing from €20 million to €50 million.
Construction and installation works for the wider Neptun Deep project are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, after which testing and commissioning will take place ahead of full-scale production. The development plan includes ten wells across the Pelican South and Domino areas, along with subsea infrastructure, an offshore platform, connecting pipelines, and an onshore gas processing facility in Tuzla.
