French company Total said on Wednesday that it will start drilling
for oil and gas off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast between February and May
next year.
The first exploration site, part of Khan Asparuh block, will be
located about 86 km off the Bulgarian coast, Xavier Faugeras, general
manager ofTotal E&P Bulgaria, said in Varna, presenting the project
to the public.
"A project like this is particularly important for energy
diversification in Bulgaria and will bring great benefits to Varna city
and the region as logistics operations will be carried out from the port
of Varna,” Faugeras said.
Total signed an exploration contract with
Bulgaria for hydrocarbondrillingatthe 14,220-sq.km. Khan Asparuh block
and teamed up with Austria’s OMV and Spain’s Repsol to work on the
permit in 2012.
Total announced last year that the start of drilling operations will be
delayed until 2016 due to aslump in global oil prices.
(www.novinite.com)