By Ahmet Gencturk
ANKARA (AA) - Greece may accelerate its drilling endeavors off the island of Crete, media reports said Thursday.
US energy company, ExxonMobil, which is currently conducting seismic surveys in the area, may skip the surveys in the western and southwestern concessions and focus on drilling, according to the Ta Nea newspaper.
As such, it stressed that the first drilling rig can be erected in early 2024, one year earlier than originally scheduled.
Meanwhile, Hellenic Petroleum completed 3D surveys of the concession in the Ionian Sea, it said.
Seismic results of the Ionian sea blocks will be known by early 2024 when the consortium led by the Greek company will decide if to proceed with drilling.