OMV Petrom makes new gas discovery in Oltenia region

Integrated oil firm OMV Petrom has discovered new hydrocarbon resources in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania.

OMV Petrom is controlled by Austrian company OMV.

Drilling at the Totea 4461 well commenced in January 2018 and tests were conducted in April. It showed up to 500,000m³ of gas per day.

OMV started experimental production for testing the potential and extent of the new accumulation.

The company said that about €50m has been invested in the new well and facilities. Another €200m was spent on gas infrastructure development in the Totea area.

Development works included the drilling of five deep gas wells and construction of the 4540 Totea surface production plants.

Natural gas from the Totea gas field is transported through a 25km pipeline to the Hurezani gas hub for treatment. The gas is then delivered into the National Transportation System.

Gas production from the Totea field is expected to provide heating for more than 500,000 households.

OMV Petrom executive board member Peter Zeilinger said the Totea gas field has been one of the main contributors in the company’s portfolio over the years.

Zeilinger said: “As with any oil and gas field, Totea has started to decline after the end of the plateau production level in 2017. The discovery of additional resources in the proximity of Totea field is great news for the potential of the area and will compensate some of this decline.”

OMV Petrom is claimed to be the largest energy firm in Southeast Europe, with an annual hydrocarbon production of 58.3 million barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) in 2018.

The group has a refining capacity of 4.5 million tons annually and operates an 860MW power plant. The group is present on the oil products retail market in Romania and neighboring countries through 789 filling stations.