Oil&gas giant ENI has started digging the first well in offshore block (1), which is located to the north of Bahrain. In May 2019, NOGA (National Oil and Gas Authority) and ENI signed an exploration and production sharing agreement for offshore block (1). It is estimated to cover an area of about 2,800 sq km, with a depth ranging from 10 to 70 meters. According to Oil Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, “Eni has completed environmental surveys to determine the quality of the seabed in advance before starting drilling operations,”. The minister said that drilling phase will continue for several months, adding that exploration operations required time and continuous co-ordination with other specialized companies to achieve goals.