An update issued on 15 December 2025 shows OMV Petrom and partner NewMed Energy are close to starting an offshore exploration drilling programme in Bulgaria’s Han Asparuh block before year-end. Noble Corporation’s drillship Globetrotter I has arrived in Bulgaria ahead of the campaign.

The first planned well, Vinekh-1, lies offshore in roughly 2,000 m water depth, with Varna about 200 km to the west. The programme covers two exploration wells, budgeted at about €170 million, and is scheduled to run for around five months. Halliburton will deliver integrated drilling services, while SLB will conduct well testing.

Han Asparuh is a western Black Sea exploration block spanning 13,712 km², with water depths just under 2,000 m. Work in the area began in 2012, including geological and geophysical surveys and three exploration wells, followed by a 3D seismic campaign completed in May 2020 to support target selection. In Romania’s Black Sea sector, OMV Petrom and Romgaz are progressing the Neptun Deep development, where first gas is expected in 2027.