The largest producer and main supplier of natural gas in Romania, SNGN Romgaz, whose main shareholder is the Romanian state through the Ministry of Energy, announced at the end of May that it will continue to invest in drilling new deep wells and expanding infrastructure to take over the volumes of hydrocarbons extracted from future wells, and these projects will involve a total investment of over 1.3 billion lei from its own sources.

The major Caragele Deep investment project, located in the counties of Buzău and Brăila, is the largest onshore deposit discovered so far by Romgaz, estimated at 30 billion cubic meters, which is equivalent to Romania’s consumption for approximately three years.

On June 6, 2025, drilling began on the 54 Damianca well, part of the strategic onshore project in Caragele, carried out by Foraj Sonde Craiova, a member of the BEGA group of companies, with a modern 450-ton drilling rig that complies with API, ATEX, and CE standards. The rig’s Top Drive is manufactured in Europe by a renowned company and meets all the requirements for drilling operations, with a load capacity of 500 tons and a power of 1100 HP.

The well will be 5,100 meters deep, making it one of the deepest wells drilled in Romania in the last two decades.

On Monday, June 16, 2025, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja visited the site, along with Romgaz executives: Răzvan Popescu, CEO; Aristotel Jude, Deputy CEO; and Dumitru Chisăliţă, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Marius and Emil Cristescu, shareholders of Foraj Sonde SA Craiova, also attended the event.

„It is a great joy and privilege to see the 54 Damianca well in Caragele, another modern well. This is a company I am particularly proud of, Romgaz. If Romania became number one in the European Union in terms of gas production last year, this is thanks to Romgaz and its team of professionals, and I am glad that another Romanian company, Foraj Sonde Craiova, is working here. It is an important, promising well that will go down to 5,100 meters, so deep Caragele, and we are convinced that with God’s help, we will find an important gas deposit here. We will continue to increase production, which means lower bills for all Romanians and more secure energy, and our goal is for other countries to depend on us, so that we are never at the mercy of others,” said Sebastian Burduja, Minister of Energy, at the end of the visit.

The Caragele structure is located in the counties of Buzău and Brăila, within the RG06 Muntenia Nord-Est perimeter, where Romgaz conducts oil operations based on the Exploration-Development-Exploitation Concession Agreement approved by Government Decision No. 23/2000, being its sole holder. The Caragele perimeter is in production with 15 wells and contributes significantly to Romgaz’s cumulative gas production. The structure is under continuous development as the wells drilled prove their commercial character.

The commitment to discover new hydrocarbon volumes is a national priority, and the drilling of the 54 Damianca well in the deep area of the Caragele structure is part of achieving this objective, Romgaz representatives said.

„We are currently active here, at the location of the 54 Damianca well, with SNGN Romgaz SA as the beneficiary of the well and Foraj Sonde Craiova, one of the most important contractors on the Romanian drilling market, as the general contractor for the work.

Drilling of the 54 Damianca well began on June 6, 2025, and will take approximately 167 days to reach the final depth of 5,100 meters, followed by an 88-day production testing period.

With the completion of drilling at well 54 Damianca, we estimate an increase in Romanian natural gas production from the Caragele structure.

The Caragele project is the most important hydrocarbon discovery (natural gas, condensate, and crude oil) in the company’s exploration portfolio and accounts for most of the onshore investments that SNGN Romgaz SA makes in its exploration activities,” explained Ionuț Cosmin Huzuneanu, Director of Drilling at SNGN Romgaz SA.

Foraj Sonde Craiova SA is a Romanian company with extensive experience working with Romgaz, using modern and minimally polluting technologies.

“We are proud to be able to contribute, alongside Romgaz SA, to the development of the national energy sector, ensuring the exploration and exploitation of gas and oil resources from strategically important deposits,” said Marius Cristescu, the main shareholder of Foraj Sonde SA Craiova.

Foraj Sonde Craiova has drilled over 2,000 gas and oil wells, with depths ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 meters, holding the record for the deepest well drilled in Europe, at over 6,200 meters, contributing to Romania’s energy security.

Since 2010, Foraj Sonde Craiova has drilled 18 wells on the Caragele structure: 7 Caragele, 8 Caragele, 17 Caragele, 10 Caragele, 29 Caragele, 21 Caragele, 18 Caragele, 31 Caragele Făurei, 23 Caragele, 55 Damianca, 20 Caragele, 26 Caragele, 1 Jirlău, 24 Caragele, 35 Caragele, 38 Caragele, 79 Rosetti, 78 Rosetti ST.

Foraj Sonde Craiova is part of the BEGA group of companies, whose shareholders are Marius and Emil Cristescu. The BEGA group of companies invests in oil drilling, machine construction, industrial minerals, real estate, and the hotel and tourism industry.