Total Begins Exploratory Drilling in the Han Asparuh Block

On Friday 22 April 2016, the drillship Noble Globetrotter II left the Bulgarian port of Burgas, to travel to the location of the Polshkov-1 well for the first deep offshore exploratory drilling in Bulgarian waters.

Xavier Faugeras, General Manager, Total E&P Bulgaria, presented the drillship at an official port ceremony on Tuesday 19 April 2016. The event, which included the symbolic Bulgarian tradition of spilling water in front of the ship’s bow for good luck, was attended by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Economic Policies Mr Tomislav Donchev,  Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of Environment and Water Ivelina Vassileva, Minister of Transport Ivaylo Moskovski, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Energy Committee Mr Delian Dobrev and other officials.

“The arrival of the drillship marks a major step in the realization of the exploration program of Block 1-21 Khan Asparuh”, Mr Faugeras pointed out. “This drilling is aimed at testing the presence of hydrocarbons on a structure identified on the block and will yield additional information to calibrate the models of the exploration team.”

Total E&P Bulgaria along with its partners OMV Offshore Bulgaria GmbH and Repsol Bulgaria B.V. are committed to continue executing this important project for Bulgaria in the most professional and efficient manner.