Industry sources have disclosed that Ukraine's national oil and gas company, Naftogaz, is negotiating a potential partnership with Romania's OMV Petrom to jointly develop a natural gas field. Naftogaz had identified significant offshore gas reserves in the Black Sea prior to the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The sources did not specify the recoverable gas reserves of the field, though one described it as one of the most promising in the Black Sea region. Romania and Turkey are already developing gas fields in their respective maritime zones.

Discussions are still in early stages, and field development is not expected to commence before the war concludes.

Nevertheless, this gas discovery could eventually enhance Europe's energy security as it reduces reliance on Russian energy, while also highlighting the potential for further energy discoveries in the Black Sea.

Neither Naftogaz nor OMV Petrom provided immediate comment on the matter.

One source indicated that seismic surveys have been partially completed for fields near Romania's maritime border, with both 3D and 2D data already acquired.

Ukraine is pursuing both corporate and intergovernmental negotiations to attract Western deepwater gas extraction technology.

Following a meeting in Bucharest earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the two countries aim to jointly advance resource extraction projects on the Black Sea continental shelf, though he did not elaborate further.

Before the war, Ukraine was nearly self-sufficient in natural gas, but after Russian missile strikes damaged around half of its production facilities, the country was forced to significantly increase imports.

The Black Sea is a critical route for transporting grain, crude oil, and petroleum products, and hosts multiple offshore drilling projects. Coastal states include Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia, which maintains access via Crimea.

Over the four years of the war, NATO members Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey have repeatedly intercepted floating sea mines in the Black Sea, which threaten energy and trade routes.

OMV Petrom, which is controlled by Austria's OMV, is currently conducting exploration in the Han Asparuh block offshore Bulgaria.

In Romania, the company is collaborating with state-owned gas producer Romgaz on the Neptun Deep deepwater project, scheduled to begin production in 2027. Once operational, it is expected to double Romania's natural gas output and transform the country into a net exporter.