Drilling is underway on the deepwater Hagar Qim-1 well offshore Malta, the first exploration well there for 12 years.

Partner Mediterranean Oil and Gas reported that the well in Malta’s Block 7 in Area 4 was spudded by the Noble Paul Romano semisubmersible. The well is located 130 km (81?miles) south of Malta in a water depth of 450 m (1,476 ft).

Drilling is expected to take up to three months to complete, MOG indicates, pointing out that the Hagar Qim-1 well is only the 11th exploration well to be drilled offshore Malta, with the last drilled in 2002 on the Lampuko prospect.