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In July 2019, Romania’s National Agency for Mineral Resources (NAMR) announced the 11th concession round. The offer consists of 28 blocks totaling over 25,125 square kilometers. 22 blocks are located onshore across all regions of Romania, while 6 blocks are offered offshore on the Black Sea. Block sizes range in size from 800 to 1000 square kilometers. The average block size is 897 km².

About Romania

Romania currently has a production of 80,000 bbl/day oil and 1,000 mmcf/day of gas for a total of 250,000 boe/day . Estimated oil reserves stand at 600 million barels of oil and 3.6 BCF of gas. Romania’s energy demand can absorb all current production. 66% of oil demand is covered by imports. Most natural gas demand is covered by domestic production.

Oil and gas industry is regulated by several national agencies (NAMR, ANRE, ANPM) and the majority of concessions are held by the former NOCs Petrom and Romgaz ( currently listed publicly). Oil and gas production started before 1900 in Romania. While the country was one of the largest petroleum producers in the world in the first half of the 20th century, oil and gas production peaked in the 1970s (500,000 barrels of oil per day in 1976) and 1980s (37 bcm/yr of gas in 1983). Development had decreased since then and production dropped.

Royalty rates range between 3 and 13.5%. Corporate tax sits at 16%. A sales tax (VAT) of 19% applies to sale price. Drilling permit fees also apply.

Over 20 E&P operators are currently active in Romania. Oil and gas pipelines are state owned, while the four main refineries are private (Petrobrazi, Petrotel, Petromidia and Vega). Five cross-border natural gas pipelines exist. Export of oil is not restricted. Three oil terminals are operating at tidewater (Black Sea coast) and on the Danube river. Gas is typically sold and consumed in country, with a controlled domestic supply requirement.

Transilvania Region

Four blocks are offers in the North-Western region of Transilvania region, totalling 4095km²:

Muntenia Region

Twelve blocks are offered in the Southern region of Muntenia, totaling 11380 km²:

Moldova Region

Five blocks are offered in the Eastern region of Moldova, totaling 4377km².

Black Sea Region

Six blocks are open for bids in the offshore Black Sea region, totaling 5274km²:

With the exception of XI-25 ( Marea-Neagră-3), all Black Sea offers were also open during round X.

Delay and change in scope

In 2020, following a national election that saw change of power, separate legislation was proposed to govern onshore and offshore exploration and development. being governed by distinct legislation, is is proposed that the licensing will be split in two rounds, one for onshore blocks, and a separate one for Black Sea blocks.

Exploration and development are governed by separate processes regulated by NAMR. The exploration licensing process (public tender, submission, award and approval) is followed by a development agreement and then a production agreement (reserve evaluation, license approval and permitting, field development planning and execution, environmental approval, production permits, etc).

Chinook Consulting has over 200 cumulative years of experience in the Romanian Oil and Gas Industry, with strong business relationships in Romania and world wide.

We can assist E&P companies through the entire appraisal, exploration and development phases with access and use of data in or out of country. This includes basin analysis, reservoir evaluation and prospect generation, regional and pool modeling and geophysical evaluation.

Chinook has a robust and experienced team that can assist in all stages of exploration, seismic program design, well planning and field development including drilling and completions engineering, wellsite geology and geosteering, reservoir engineering and project management.

Please contact us for more information.

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