/IRBIS, December 6, 2011/ - The Rompetrol Group (100% subsidiary of JSC "National Company "KazMunayGas") has begun drilling the first well in Romania, near the settlement Filipesht de Padurea (Prahova county), using its own rig, reports the press service of KMG.

It is reported that the cost of investment in the project exceeds U.S. $ 8.5 million.

It was indicated that this operation is part of a four-year contract signed between Rompetrol SA and OMV Petrom for provision of drilling services in Romania. The contract, signed in June this year at a total cost of U.S. $ 29 million (21.7 million euros) was awarded to the Rompetrol SA as a result of public tender.

"The investments were mainly focused on the acquisition of new high-performance rig - the first installation belonging to the company in the country. The experience gained during 35 years of experience in the provision of drilling and servicing oil wells in 15 countries allow us to develop our profile in the future activity in the domestic market, as well as in the Black Sea region", - noted George Dzheordzhesku, CEO of Rompetrol SA.

The rig was made by Romanian companies UPET SA (Targovishte) and IMUT S.A. (Mr. Morin) and equipped with top drive from Norwegian company NorDrill. This unit has a static load on the hook to 160 metric tons and can be used at a depth of 2,500 meters.

The business unit Upstream The Rompetrol Group consists of company Rompetrol SA (established in 1974), which specializes in projects related to exploration and mining, oil drilling, as well as company Rompetrol Well Services (established in 1951), which operates in the maintenance of wells (cementing, services and fastening arrangement, stimulation , testing, test services, casing wells, etc.).

The company Rompetrol S.A. is a member of the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) and the Association of Drilling Contractors of Romania (ACFR).

"With more than 35 years of experience in the provision of drilling and workover, company Rompetrol SA has been working in countries such as Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Kazakhstan, Ecuador, Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Sudan, India and Greece", - was stated in the message.

[2011-12-06]