The largest offshore gas project in Romania is now being piped.
The Romanian Neptun Deep 'Black' 'Sea Gas Project' has started to lay the pipelines. This project is one of 'European Union's' most important energy 'deposits' with an estimated 100 billion cubic metres of recoverable 'gas.
Neptun Deep, once it begins producing gas in 2027 will double Romania’s gas production. It is likely to turn Romania into a net gas exporter during a period when the EU is reducing its dependence on Russian gas. The company will also supply Germany and Moldova. Other European countries such as Slovakia are also interested.
This project is a joint-venture between OMV Petrom, which is majority controlled by Austrian OMV and Romania's Romgaz, a state-owned company.
Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom, said that the project would give Romania a bigger stage in the European Union.
"I think it's a good reminder to us that when we have access here in Europe to natural gas, we should make sure we develop it and bring it on the market."
Two ships owned by Italy’s Saipem will lay 160 km (99 miles) from offshore wells towards land where work on a gas measuring plant is in full swing.
OMV Petrom's senior executive Cristian Hubati stated that the pipeline will be laid in two months, and the plant will be completed by the summer.
Castoro 10 & Castorone are part of a fleet?of 50 vessels? that will be in the Black Sea to help build Neptun Deep this year.
The fact that we've started installing the pipeline shows we're on track to deliver this project, said Romgaz CEO Razvan Popescu.
Six deep water wells remain to be dug by the company. The production platform is being constructed in Indonesia and Italy, and will arrive at the Black Sea later this summer.
The Black Sea, which is crucial for the shipments of oil, grain and oil products, and also home to offshore drilling, is shared between Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia as well as Turkey, Ukraine and Russia via Crimea. (Reporting and editing by Susan Fenton; Luiza Ilie, reporting)
(source: Reuters)
