The 115-meter-long vessel entered the Bosphorus from the Marmara Sea and reached the Black Sea. It was accompanied by more than 10 pilot boats, guard ships and towing boats. Its normal height of 84 meters was lowered to 58 meters in order to make a safe passage under the three bridges spanning over the Bosphorus.
The semi-submersible drilling rig unit Scarabeo 9 of Saipem is suitable for operations in the area, thanks to its ability to lower its tower which enables crossing of the Bosphorus Strait at Istanbul to enter in the Black Sea Region.
After obtaining the permits, Lukoil, the third investor interested in the Romanian Black Sea gas projects, will start drilling this autumn, and works will be carried out by a platform supplied by the Italian company Saipem.
According to the press release of the company, the Black Sea drilling is expected to start in the last quarter of the year and will be done with a semi-submersible platform, Scarabeo 9. The platform was contracted by the Russian company Lukoil, for the drilling campaign in its perimeter in the Romanian Black Sea area, the Trident perimeter, converging market sources said.
The Trident perimeter is 87.8% owned by Lukoil (the Russian company is the operator), while the rest is held by Romgaz, company controlled by the Romanian state. According to seismic data, the surface of the reservoir can reach 39 square km, and the reserves to be confirmed by the assessment drill can exceed 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas, Romgaz said in 2015.
This drilling project is being added to other black sea projects ongoing in the region.