ExxonMobil has started drilling an exploration well offshore Cyprus. This was confirmed on Friday by the country’s Ministry of Energy.

The ministry said Exxon had started drilling the drilling of “Delphyne-1” well in Block 10, within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus.

Exxon is the operator of the Block 10, with its partner being Qatar Petroleum. The duo won the block as part of the third offshore licensing round in December 2016.

The U.S. company is using Stena Drilling’s Stena Icemax drillship for the Delphyne-1 drilling. Water depth at the site is 1.973 meters.

This well is the first of two well the Block 10 partners have committed to drill as part of the contract signed with the Cyprus government.

According to Exxon’s previous statements the contract includes a commitment from the ExxonMobil-Qatar Petroleum consortium to acquire 3-D seismic data (now completed), drill two exploration wells in the first license period, and work with the government of Cyprus to build skills and strengthen understanding of the petroleum business through focused training programs.