May 23, 2013 - Mediterranean Oil & Gas (MOG), operator of Area 4 offshore Malta, reached an agreement with Genel Energy to enable the Noble Paul Romano (DW semisub) to drill an exploration well on the Hagar Qim prospect in 4Q 2013. The well will be drilled in 1,476 feet of water and will target a Lower Eocene/Paleocene reservoir estimated to contain gross prospective resources of 109 MMboe. Genel Energy is MOG's partner in Area 4 and also has the Paul Romano contracted through November 2015.

Apr 30, 2013 - San Leon Energy signed an amendment to its Petroleum Sharing Contract (PSC) covering the Durresi Block in the Adriatic Sea off Albania. The amendment alleviates tight timelines that existed in the previous form of the PSC in which San Leon was required to drill an exploratory well in 2013. Approval by the Council of Ministers is necessary for the amendment to become effective. That approval is expected to be granted next week giving San Leon two full years to being drilling operations. The company has plans to drill a well on the Alban structure in 2014.