NOC to launch record-depth offshore exploration well in January

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has announced its readiness to drill the first deep-water exploration well in the submerged offshore zone of the Sirte Basin, marking a significant step in Libya’s efforts to expand its offshore energy potential.

In a statement on Thursday, the corporation said its Exploration and Drilling Departments held a preparatory meeting at NOC headquarters in Tripoli, attended by representatives from Eni, BP, the Libyan Investment Authority, and several leading international service companies.

The meeting focused on operational planning and the execution phases of the well, which is scheduled to be spudded in early January in offshore block 38/3. The drilling site lies at a water depth of around 1,900 metres and approximately 170 kilometres off the Libyan coast, making it the deepest offshore well ever attempted in the country.

Participants reviewed operational scenarios, readiness requirements, and the technical capabilities of the companies involved, with an emphasis on ensuring that the project is carried out in line with the highest industry and safety standards.

The NOC described the initiative as a pivotal milestone for Libya’s offshore exploration programme, opening new avenues for investment and strengthening ongoing efforts to develop the nation’s oil and gas sector.