The two companies bought a drilling platform, Ocean Endeavor, from Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc to resume exploration drilling in the Neptun Deep block at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2014, Petrom said in a statement.
Data collected from the 3D seismic survey and the exploration drilling program will be used to assess the commercial and technical feasibility of the Domino gas discovery announced in 2012.
ExxonMobil and Petrom expect to invest over $1 billion in the exploration program, which comprises 3D seismic survey and further exploration and appraisal drilling.
The joint Domino-1 well is the first deepwater exploration well in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea. The well is located in the Neptun block some 170 kilometers offshore Romania, in water about 1,000 kilometers deep. Drilling started at the end of 2011.
In late 2012, OMV Petrom and ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania started a large 3D seismic survey in the block.