Royal Dutch Shell

Energy giants Shell and Total have expressed interest before in exploring Bosnia's oil and gas deposits, but experts are doubtful about the potential.

The first attempt at oil and gas prospecting off Silistar in the Black Sea has failed.

At the end of March "Shell International Exploration and Development Italia", in which Shell has a 50 percent share, the Australian Woodside Energy - 30 percent, and the Spanish Repsol - the remaining shares, conducted three months of prospecting in Block Khan Kubrat.

Three month exploration drill for oil and gas in the deep waters of the Black Sea near Burgas begins on 1 April 2019. Shell International Exploration & Development Italy SPA, reported on Tuesday to journalists.

The Council of Ministers has authorized Shell International Exploitation and Development Italy S.A. to transfer 20% of oil and gas exploration rights to Block 1-14 Kubrat to Repsol Bulgaria Khan Kubrat SA. The possibility of transferring the rights and obligations under granted permit for prospecting and exploration is regulated in the Underground Natural Resources Act.

London-based offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation said Shell has hired its Noble Globetrotter II ship to drill a well offshore Bulgaria beginning in the first quarter of 2019, reports SeeNews. 

Bulgaria's government said that it has approved the transfer of 30% of the exploration rights on offshore Block 1-14 Khan Kubrat to the local branch of Australia's Woodside Energy from the current sole holder, Shell International Exploration and Development Italia, reports SeeNews. 

Greece's state-controlled DEPA gas company has concluded the acquisition of Shell's 49 percent stake in a domestic gas supplier and in a gas distributor in Athens, becoming the sole stakeholder in the two companies, it said on Wednesday.

Woodside said on Wednesday that it had entered the farm-in agreement with Shell to buy a 30% non-operated participating interest in Block 1-14 Khan Kubrat

The block is located within the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Black Sea.

The deal for the transfer of a 49 percent stake in Attica Gas Corporation from Shell to Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) was finally signed on Friday. The price that will be paid is 150 million euros.

The Energy Ministry expects on Friday to close the deal between Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) and Shell for the acquisition by the Greek gas company of the Dutch group's stake in Attica Gas Corporation. The process is already behind the schedule provided for in an agreement between Minister Giorgos Stathakis and Greece's creditors.