The Greek company Energean, which in March of last year signed a concession contract with the Government for the production and exploration of oil and gas in the Montenegrin seabed for two blocks in the municipality of Ulcinj, should begin seismic surveys of the seabed during the first three months of next year.
The Hydrocarbons Administration, whose director is Vladan Dubljević, officially told "Vijesti" that Energean's obligation, in accordance with the concession contract for exploration and production of oil and gas, is to complete the exploration during the first investigation period, which expires in March 2020. .
"The Greek company Energean is expected to start seismic recording in the Montenegrin sea during the first quarter of 2019. At the moment, the Greek company is in the process of completing the Environmental Impact Assessment study and the Subject Research Project. The public debate on this study has been completed and is currently being considered by the commission of the competent Agency for Nature and Environmental Protection. In the meantime, in cooperation with the Institute of Marine Biology, monitoring of the zero state of fish resources was carried out," said the Administration for Hydrocarbons.
The seismic survey will last 13 to 20 days and covers an area, as explained by the Administration for Hydrocarbons, of about 335 square kilometers.
When the contract was signed with the government, the Greek company announced that the total investment for the seven-year research period is 19 million dollars and includes the financing of a new 3D seismic survey, geophysical and geological studies, as well as the drilling of one well. The executive director of Energean Oil and Gas Matias Rigaš then assessed that the signing of the contract was an important day for that company, which came to Montenegro three years ago with an interest in starting oil and gas exploration.
“We are here with the commitment to start the research process. Our company has been operating in Greece for 35 years, where it works in an environmentally sensitive area. During that time, we didn't have any incidents," Rigaš emphasized.
He pointed out that they are fully committed to the protection of the environment and ecological resources in Montenegro, but also that they want to bring new experience in oil and gas exploration.
He added that they have 500 employees in Greece, and that they would like to hire a lot of workers in Montenegro, where they feel at home.
By signing the contract with Energean, the first tender for exploration and production of oil and gas was completed. Previously, in September 2016, the Government signed a contract with the Italian-Russian consortium Eni-Novatek for the exploration of four blocks in the municipality of Ukinj.
The first tender for oil exploration in the Montenegrin subsea was announced at the end of July 2013, and was closed on May 15, 2014. The tender related to 13 exploration blocks.
Eni-Novatek research so far without problems
The Hydrocarbons Administration announced in the middle of last week that the 3D seismic survey on blocks 4, 5, 9 and 10 is proceeding according to plan. That research began on November 19 and will last, if everything goes according to plan and weather conditions permit, for 34 days.
The concession for those blocks was given to the Italian-Russian consortium Eni-Novatek
"During the first seven days of work, the Polar Empress 3D seismic research vessel completed the recording of about 300 km2, which is about 22 percent of the total area of Blocks 4, 5, 9 and 10 in the Montenegrin subsea. During this period, 3D seismic recording was realized without problems and delays. All measures of environmental protection and monitoring of environmental parameters are carried out in accordance with the report on environmental impact assessment", announced the Administration.
As they stated, licensed observers of marine mammals and turtles on board the Polar Empress did not register any changes that could indicate a negative impact of 3D imaging on marine biodiversity.
"In addition, in this period, the presence of marine mammals and turtles was not recorded in the "security" zone (zone within a radius of 700 m from the ship)", said the Administration.
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