- Operations
- Ukraine
- Romania
- Egypt
Regal holds two licences in the north eastern part of Romania. The Suceava and Barlad blocks are located to the east of the producing oil and gas fields and infrastructure in the Carpathian Mountains on the Moldavian Platform. These blocks cover 4,103km2 and 6,285km2 respectively, with potential hydrocarbons at shallow horizons in the range of 500m to 1,500m. Regal holds a 100% working interest and is operator of the Barlad block. The Suceava block, adjacent and directly north of the Balard block, is managed via a 50/50 joint venture with Aurelian Oil and Gas Plc ('Aurelian') as operator.
On the Barlad licence, the evaluation of 1,122km of 2D seismic has been acquired and interpreted and three exploration wells have been drilled. The first well, RBN-4, which completed in 29 October 2007, discovered gas which was tested at a maximum rate of 3.74 MMcf/d (105,900 m3/d). The second well, RBN-3, and the third well, RBN-S1 were unsuccessful and was plugged and abandoned.
On the Suceava licence, 160km of 2D seismic has been acquired and interpreted and one exploration well was drilled by Aurelian to fulfil its joint venture earn-in obligations. The Dornesti Sud-1 well discovered gas and was tested at an average rate of 0.88 MMcf/d (24,840 m3/d) in December 2007. Consideration is being given to a possible tie in of this well to the Bilca Gas Plant, operated by Aurelian, on its adjacent Brodina Block EIII-1.
The Company is cautiously optimistic that the Romanian assets will develop into an interesting opportunity. As the main objectives are relatively shallow, the drilling costs are expected to be considerably lower than in Ukraine. We are hopeful that as a result of the current discoveries, there is an opportunity of early production from these assets.