Saturday, September 10, 2016

Greece Backs Implementation of Southern Gas Corridor Project - Russian Minister - SPUTNIK NEWS

10.09.2016

Greece supports the implementation and development of the Southern Gas Corridor project, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday, after the talks with Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Panagiotis Skourletis.

THESSALONIKI (Sputnik) — The Southern Gas Corridor is expected to extend to over 2,000 miles, carrying natural gas from the Caspian Sea across Azerbaijan and Georgia into Turkey and on through Greece and Albania into southern Italy. The project is backed by the United States and the European Commission, and is considered by them as a competitor to the Turkish Stream project.

Erdogan’s Delusions of Energy Grandeur: Why Turkey Will Not Achieve “Energy Hub” Status - HIPPO READS / HUFFINGTON POST


Constantinos Papalucas

With Erdogan’s democratic countercoup enforcing temporary order and the recent rapprochement with Russia and Israel, Turkey’s expected next step is to focus on its long-standing aspiration: to become a regional energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean (East-Med). The US-Turkey negotiations for the conditional use of Incirlik Airbase by NATO forces, ongoing since 2003, and the recent EU-Turkey deal on migration have both reaffirmed that Erdogan’s Turkey would not miss an opportunity to extract political rents from the West and monetize its geographic monopoly with morally ambiguous political demands. Erdogan’s interpretation of a Turkish energy hub, coupled with Western inertia, has even allowed Islamic State to “enjoy Turkish money for oil for a very, very long period of time.” [1] But is a Turkish energy hub a realistic target that would help the West diversify its energy imports, or is it just another Trojan horse amplifying Western dependency on countries that use energy as a weapon?

Friday, September 9, 2016

Egypt positions itself at the center of a new energy market - NATURAL GAS EUROPE / STRATFOR

September 09th, 2016

A string of sizable natural gas discoveries has been made in the eastern Mediterranean Sea over the past decade, and Egypt is working to ensure that it reaps the benefits. On Aug. 31, Cairo signed a preliminary deal with Cyprus to build an underwater pipeline linking Cyprus' Aphrodite natural gas field with the Egyptian coastline. If the project overcomes the considerable hurdles that still lie in its path, including uncertain funding, the pipeline could be operational by 2020, enabling Cyprus to finally begin producing from its largest known natural gas deposit.

Jordan, Cyprus agree to expand cooperation at ‘milestone’ summit - JORDAN TIMES

His Majesty King Abdullah meets with Cypriot President Nicos
Anastasiades in Nicosia on Thursday (Photo courtesy of Royal Court)
By JT - Sep 09,2016 - Last updated at Sep 09,2016

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday discussed bilateral relations and regional developments with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in Nicosia, according to a Royal Court statement.

The two leaders discussed the outcomes of Anastasiades' visit to Jordan in November last year and the outcomes of the Jordanian-Cypriot Business Forum the Kingdom hosted in the same month.

In statements at the expanded meeting session, His Majesty said that Jordan seeks deeper relations with Cyprus, especially in the fields of trade, investment, energy, technology and tourism.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Snam: First Azerbaijani gas will reach Italy in 2020 - NEWS.AZ

Thu 08 September 2016 17:34 GMT | 20:34 Local Time

The first Azerbaijani gas through Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will reach Italian market in January 2020, Chief Executive Officer at Snam Marco Alverà said.

According to Report, Alvera said during the construction of TAP, 231 olive trees in the area of Puglia will be relocated: "Initially 231, and then 1 700 olive trees will be relocated. Southern Gas Corridor worth 50 bln USD is of strategic importance for us.

Cyprus and Egypt sign gas pipeline agreement - PIPELINES INTERNATIONAL

SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

A preliminary agreement has been reached between Cyprus and Egypt for the construction of a subsea pipeline between the two countries.

The proposed pipeline will transport natural gas from Cyprus to Egypt, where it will enter the nation grid or be transferred to LNG facilities.

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla said the deal was mutually beneficial for both countries.

He said the agreement would continue to unlock and promote the potential of the Eastern Mediterranean, boosting Egypt’s position as a regional energy hub.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Lloyd’s advising Cyprus on upstream offshore gas matters - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

09/07/2016
Offshore staff

LONDON – Cyprus’ national oil and gas company, Cyprus Hydrocarbons Co. (CHC), has appointed Lloyd’s Register as independent commercial advisor for its commercial exploitation of hydrocarbons in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus.

Phil Edwards, consulting director of Lloyd’s Register’s energy business, said: “Our work includes a number of activities such as assisting CHC in realizing its options and strategies for successful development of the EEZ, and crucially assisting in hydrocarbon sale discussions and agreements with upstream operators and partners active in the Cyprus EEZ.”

The three-year contract, with extension options, started last month.

New gas field could rival biggest in region, says Israel - THE TIMES


Gregg Carlstrom, Tel Aviv
September 7 2016, 12:00am, The Times

Israel has discovered major new reserves of natural gas off its Mediterranean coast, the energy ministry has told investors in London.

Officials compared the new find to the Zohr field, the largest in the region, discovered last year in Egypt. Data about the new deposit, called Jonah, is still preliminary however; Israel will auction exploration licences in November to conduct a more thorough investigation.

The discovery could further reshape Israel’s fast-changing role in world energy markets. A long-time importer, the country has recently become a major player in the natural gas industry, with large fields that could produce $270 billion…

If Israel Has to Rely on Turkey to Buy Its Gas, We Have a Problem - HAARETZ

The great Turkish hope has wilted into a stagnant economy ruled by an authoritarian leader, and nobody else is lining up for Israel's gas.

David Rosenberg, 
Haaretz ContributorSep 07, 2016 7:30 PM 

No one can fault Energy Minster Yuval Steinitz for the enthusiasm he radiates about Israel’s energy prospects.

If the estimate of 75 trillion cubic feet he has been giving for Israel’s gas reserves in the Mediterranean Sea is true, it puts Israel in the same league at energy giants like Norway and Canada. He envisions Israel turning into a top supplier of gas to Europe. And, he has declared the regulatory turmoil that halted new exploration and production for four years to be over .

Quicktake Q&A: Israel’s Geopolitical Quandary on Exporting Gas - BLOOMBERG

David Wainer, Yaacov Benmeleh
September 7, 2016 — 12:00 AM EEST

Israel has paved the way to sign multi-billion dollar contracts for exports from its Leviathan gas field. Government officials and the companies developing the reservoir typically speak about two main options for exports: Egypt and Turkey. Both scenarios carry geopolitical risks in a region fraught with them.

1. When will Israel start exporting gas?
Israeli company Delek Group Ltd. and its U.S. partner, Noble Energy Inc., have begun development work on Leviathan, a natural-gas field discovered in 2010 in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel’s coast. The goal is to start exporting gas by 2019. In the first stage, the partners want to pipe the majority of 12 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. The rest could go to Egypt’s domestic market through existing infrastructure. A later stage could involve a pipeline to a regional neighbor for a cost of $1.5 billion or more. 

Shell Finds Massive Pocket of Natural Gas in Western Egypt - LABORATORY EQUIPMENT

Wed, 09/07/2016 - 9:54 Seth Augenstein - Digital Reporter

Royal Dutch Shell has discovered a big pocket of natural gas in the western deserts of Egypt.

The fuel source deep under the concession area of north Alam El-Shawish is estimated to contain about 500 billion cubic feet of gas or more, according to a corporate statement to Reuters.

The find could produce up to 15 percent of the overall production of Badr el-Din Petroleum, a company jointly operated by the state and Shell.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Turkey-Israel deal set to start a Middle East gas bonanza - MIDDLE EAST EYE

Aurangzeb Qureshi
Tuesday 6 September 2016 12:04 UTC

Putting past troubles behind them, both Turkey and Israel see this as the deal of the century as the Leviathan gas field comes on tap

With Turkey and Israel about to restart diplomatic relations after a six-year hiatus, it would be remiss to not mention the role of natural gas in the deal.

In 2010, Israel discovered the Leviathan gas field – a mammoth discovery of 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas worth $95 billion on its shore. The discovery has since been caught up in regulatory hurdles until June of this year. The reversal in Israel’s natural gas fortunes has naturally caught Turkey’s attention.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Egypt: The Eastern Mediterranean's Next Natural Gas Hub? - STRATFOR

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016 | 13:00 GMT
Forecast
  • The eastern Mediterranean will attract great interest from international oil and natural gas companies over the next decade.
  • Egypt, hoping to take advantage of that interest, will try to position itself as the region's energy hub.
  • Though Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has made energy reform a priority, other policy goals may slow his progress.
Analysis

A string of sizable natural gas discoveries has been made in the eastern Mediterranean Sea over the past decade, and Egypt is working to ensure that it reaps the benefits. On Aug. 31, Cairo signed a preliminary deal with Cyprus to build an underwater pipeline linking Cyprus' Aphrodite gas field with the Egyptian coastline. If the project overcomes the considerable hurdles that still lie in its path, including uncertain funding, the pipeline could be operational by 2020, enabling Cyprus to finally begin producing from its largest known natural gas deposit.

Hudson Institute releases report on Israel and energy independence in the Eastern Mediterranean - YOUR OIL & GAS NEWS / HUDSON INSTITUTE

Monday, Sep 05, 2016

Hudson Institute released a report examining Israel's regional energy security, based on conclusions by the Commission on the Eastern Mediterranean. The report was developed in conjunction with the University of Haifa, and summarizes the conclusions reached by a consortium of senior Israeli and American military officers, policy practitioners and scholars.

The report examines Israel's energy policies in relation to recent geopolitical developments affecting the Middle East since the Arab Spring, from destabilization caused by Islamic extremism to discoveries of large offshore energy reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean. Members of the commission gathered in Israel and Washington, D.C. in 2016 to discuss Israel's energy environment, security problems and opportunities in the region and the future of the US-Israel strategic partnership.

Gas production grows to 4.17 bcf/d, maturity decline lowest since 2012 - ENTERPRISE

Monday, 5 September 2016

Egypt’s natural gas production rate has increased to 4.17 bcf /d as of last week, while the daily decline in the maturity of gas fields reached its lowest point since in 2012, an unnamed source from EGAS told Al Borsa. 140 mcf/d of gas from Eni’s Nooros field among other fields was the main driver for this improved performance, the source noted.

Kuwait Energy starts production from Egypt's Al-Jahra SE-1X oil well - KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY (KUNA)

05/09/2016 

By Osama Jalal

KUWAI, Sept 5 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Energy plc (Kuwait Energy) announced on Monday the commencement of production from the Al-Jahra SE-1X exploration well in the Abu Sennan concession located in Egypt's Western Desert.

After discovery of the well on 27 July 2016, Kuwait Energy obtained the development lease from the Egyptian Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) for Al-Jahra SE-1X on 24 August and commenced production a day later, at an initial rate of 460 barrels of oil per day (bopd).

The well is producing at a 2" inch choke size and production has stabilized to a daily average rate of 410 bopd, Sara Akbar, CEO of Kuwait Energy told KUNA.

Weekly Overview: Caspian Sailaway; East-West politics and the East Med - NATURAL GAS EUROPE

September 05th, 2016 - William Powell

The sailaway of the first Shah Deniz jacket on time on September 1 from its Caspian Sea shipyard was marked by a quayside ceremony involving the Azerbaijan president, Ilham Aliev, and BP country boss Ewan Drummond. The $40bn-odd Caspian Sea-southern Italy project will, when complete, be an immense feat of commercial, political and mechanical engineering, whose timing could not have been more precarious, given the falling market now foreseen for early next decade; and that is only half the battle as the southern gas corridor is designed to carry another 16bn m³/yr westwards across Turkey.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Israel seeks to lure big oil and gas groups for rights auction - FINANCIAL TIMES

September 4, 2016 12:22 pm
By Andrew Ward, Energy Editor

Israel says some of the world's biggest oil and gas companies have expressed interest in its forthcoming auction of exploration rights as the country attempts to restore confidence among investors after years of regulatory uncertainty.

Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s energy minister, will hold talks with potential Asian investors in Singapore this week after meetings in London last week.

Bids are due in November for 24 blocks being opened for drilling off the Israeli coast.

The roadshow represents an attempted relaunch of Israel’s natural gas resources among overseas investors after delays to the $6.5bn Leviathan offshore project led by Noble Energy of the US and Delek of Israel.