Petroceltic International's Muridava-1 exploration well on the Muridava (EX-27) license in the Romanian Black Sea has been plugged and abandoned after failling to find commercial hydrocarbons.
The well, spudded on April 11 and drilled to 2747m total depth, was the first exploration well drilled by the Muridava concession owners.
Petrolceltic, which is operator and holds 40% interest, said the well "failed to encounter commercial quantities of hydrocarbons in the primary Eocene, Paleocene and Upper Cretaceous reservoir targets."
Partner Sterling Resources (40%) said open hole logs were not obtained through the primary zones of interest, due to severe deterioration of the open hole, drilling samples, cuttings, and mud logs through the penetrated sections did not indicate any hydrocarbon accumulations. The well was also unable to reach a secondary target in the Lower Cretaceous.
Sterling Resources' CEO Jake Ulrich said: "We are disappointed with the Muridava 1 well and that operating conditions prohibited reaching the full targeted depth. We have two more drilling locations on this concession, which we will be reviewing with the operator and will likely return to drilling on this block in 2015."
The Muridava concession was awarded in the 10th licensing round. Petromar 20% holds the remaining 20% interest.