OMV Petrom and Romgaz have completed the installation of the offshore production platform for Neptun Deep, marking one of the most important stages in the development of Romania's largest natural gas project, which remains on schedule to begin production in 2027.

According to an OMV Petrom press release, located in an area where the water depth is around 120 metres, 'Neptun Alpha' weighs 16,500 tonnes and has a total height of more than 225 metres. Both the supporting structure (jacket) and the upper structure (topsides) were manufactured by Saipem at its yards in Arbatax, Italy, and Karimun, Indonesia, respectively.

'Neptun Deep is a strategic project for Romania, which will contribute to the country's energy security and reduce dependence on imports. The installation of the production platform in the Black Sea represents one of the most important stages of the project and confirms its steady progress. We have also completed six of the ten development wells, as well as the installation of the 160-kilometre pipeline connecting the project to the shore. The development of the project continues with the installation of subsea pipelines and umbilicals between the fields to connect the offshore components, a stage that will be followed by rigorous testing to prepare for production, which is estimated to begin in 2027,' OMV Petrom CEO Christina Verchere said in the press release.

The platform installation was carried out with the assistance of Saipem 7000, the world's third-largest semi-submersible crane vessel, which uses advanced offshore lifting and positioning technology.

'Installing offshore structures weighing approximately 16,500 tonnes - almost the equivalent of two Eiffel Towers - is a highly complex and extremely precise operation. The supporting structure was secured to the seabed with eight piles, each more than two metres in diameter. The platform is fully automated and can be operated remotely. As it is a platform without permanent personnel on board, we are also building a dedicated support vessel for operational and maintenance activities, which will be able to accommodate up to 90 people. We are progressing at a sustained pace with the execution of the project, with safety remaining our top priority, in order to provide reliable energy for Romania and energy security for our region. I thank our partners and OMV Petrom teams for their dedication, professionalism and perseverance in contributing to the implementation of this project,' said Cristian Hubati, OMV Petrom Executive Board member responsible for Exploration and Production, according to the press release.

The platform will ensure the processing of natural gas and its delivery to the transport infrastructure that will bring it ashore.

The production infrastructure of the Neptun Deep project includes 10 wells in the Pelican Sud and Domino fields, three subsea production systems, associated gathering pipelines, an offshore platform, a natural gas pipeline to Tuzla, and a gas metering station.

'The Neptun Deep project is achieving a series of important milestones that will contribute to Romania's energy security. The installation of the Neptun Alpha offshore production platform was carried out to the highest safety standards and follows the completion of the gas transport pipeline installation stage. We are maintaining a sustained pace in the execution of ongoing offshore works for the installation of subsea infrastructure at the Domino and Pelican Sud fields, the completion of wells and commissioning in 2027,' said Romgaz CEO Razvan Popescu.

In the coming period, the project will enter a new phase focused on connecting all components of the system: continuing the drilling of production wells, installing and integrating subsea infrastructure, connecting offshore facilities to the transport pipeline, and carrying out an extensive testing programme. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Tilica; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)