Rompetrol started drilling first well in Romania

Upstream division (exploration and production) of Rompetrol group starts drilling the first exploration well at Fokshani block in Romania, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the press-service of KazMunaiGas National Company. The company owns the rights for exploration and exploitation of this block since 2005. Exploration well KAZ1 is located in the north-west part of the block close to Fitionesti town and has a target depth of 4.2 thousand meters. The company also plans to perform 2D seismic survey (at least 200km) at the south-west part of the block (Prunen structure) for further research of the block’s potential. The group currently owns the rights for exploration and production of 5 geological exploration blocks at the territory of Romania: Satu Mare, Gresu, Nereju, Zeguzhan and Fokshani. In the beginning of 2012 the company completed drilling of two exploration wells at the territory of Satu Mare block (Madaras and Moftinu towns); hydrocarbons were discovered in one of them. “Start of drilling at Fokshani block marks Kazakhstan impact in enhancement of the security of energy supply of the European continent,” temporary charge d'affaires of Kazakhstan in Romania Talgat Kaliyev said. Rompetrol group of companies is 100 percent owned by KazMunaiGas state oil and gas corporation of Kazakhstan. The company’s main directions include oil processing, marketing and sales of oil products. Rompetrol owns and operates three oil refineries in Romania, as well as European network of over 1,000 petrol stations (in Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Georgia, France and Spain). Rompetrol operates in 12 countries, its personnel counts at 7.5 thousand people. The company's turnover made $6.8 billion in 2011.