Zohr soars, Nour not sure - PETROLEUM ECONOMIST

30 August 2019
Gerald Butt

The super-giant Zohr gas field, in the Shorouk concession with at least 30tn ft3 of gas in place, keeps on breaking records. After first production was achieved in less than two-and-a-half years post-discovery, Italy's Eni now says that production has reached more than 2.7bn ft3/d (76.4mn m³/d)—five months ahead of plan.

A second 216km (134-mile) 30in pipeline connecting the offshore subsea production facilities to the onshore treatment plant just west of Port Said became operational in August. With this and the completion and optimisation of the plant treatment capacity, Eni says that, by end-2019, Zohr's potential production rate will reach 3.2bn ft3/d (90.6mn m³/d), up from the 2.7bn ft3/d plateau envisaged in the development plan.

Gas from Zohr already accounts for around one-third of Egypt's 6.5bn ft3/d output, and this extra production is enabling the resumption of LNG exports from the Idku plant—after a period when the country was forced to import LNG. The Damietta facility remains closed, pending the resolution of a dispute between the Egyptian government and operator Union Fenosa Gas, a joint venture between Eni and Spain's Naturgy.

Superpowers Are Vying For Power In This New Oil & Gas Frontier - OIL PRICE

Aug 29, 2019, 3:00 PM CDT

Vanand Meliksetian

The Eastern Mediterranean has become a hotbed for tensions between regional and great powers due to the discovery of major energy deposits. The littoral states could potentially earn billions in gas exports while at the same time ensuring a level of energy security, which is rare to the region. However, the on-going activities create a level of complexity, which is an opportunity for countries such as the U.S. and Russia to exert influence.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned of "revisionist powers like Iran, Russia, and China trying to take major footholds in the East and West." The U.S. wishes to create an alliance of countries connected through multilateral interdependence. The backbone of the coalition is to be formed by Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.

The most critical driver for Washington’s assertiveness is Russia’s resurgence as a major force which can project power in the wider region. Moscow's relatively successful policy in the Middle East and its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean through its military intervention in Syria are making the U.S. wary of Russian influence.

Israeli Energy Exports Won’t Make Europe More Pro-Israel - FOREIGN POLICY

AUGUST 28, 2019, 6:57 AMCHARLES ELLINAS

The natural gas discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean is so expensive to bring to market that it might never reach European consumers, let alone change the policies of EU governments.

Ever since the discovery of the Leviathan gas field off the coast of Haifa, Israel has been dreaming of riches and political influence. A recent Foreign Policy article has taken this to the realms of the unimaginable—arguing that future European dependence on Israeli gas exports could both change the political views of European countries toward Israel and make the EU pro-Israel.

But the article overlooks a more basic question: Can Israeli gas ever make it to Europe or to global markets at a competitive price? With Leviathan about to come onstream, Israel, Noble Energy (as the operator), and its partners are looking for gas sales beyond this first phase of development. As much as 9-10 billion cubic meters per year of gas could be available for export. This is about the same amount as the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline from Azerbaijan to Italy that will be delivering 10 billion cubic meters per year to Europe by 2020.

Damietta liquefaction plant to reopen in 3Q2019? - ENTERPRISE

Wednesday, 28 August 2019

Deja vu: Damietta LNG plant to reopen in 3Q2019? The Damietta liquefaction plant will reopen by the end of 3Q2019 after being offline for the past six years, an unnamed oil industry source tells Youm7. The facility, which produces around 5 mn tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year when operational, has been closed amid a long-running dispute between the Egyptian government and operator Union Fenosa Gas (UFG).

We’ve heard this one before: An oil ministry source said back in February that the plant would reopen in April following an agreement with UFG. This was proved wrong just two days later when UFG publicly denied reaching a settlement. Then last month Eni (a joint partner in UFG with Union Fenosa) said that the facility should open “soon this year”, and another source claimed that the facility would be operating at full capacity by 4Q2019. For the latest claim to be realistic, there needs to be a resolution to the five-year UFG dispute within the next four weeks. Forgive us if we keep our eyebrows raised on this one.

DLA Piper advises Natural Gas Public Company of Cyprus on terminal - HYDROCARBON ENGINEERING

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 11:30

DLA Piper has advised the Natural Gas Public Company of Cyprus (DEFA) on its tender process for the selection of the contractor for the design, construction, procurement, commissioning, operation and maintenance of an offshore LNG import terminal and associated infrastructure, located in Vasilikos, Cyprus.

DEFA announced today the outcome of its tender process, selecting as the first ranked tenderer a consortium led by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd, and includes AKTOR S.A., Metron S.A., Hudong-Zhongua Shipbuilding Co. Ltd and Wilhelmsen Ship Management Ltd. As per the terms of the announcement, the tender is for the next stage of the development of a natural gas market in Cyprus and that major companies involved in the European gas markets also participated in the tender process.

The DEFA Chairman, Symeon Kassianides, commented: “We are pleased to see the successful outcome of the process. Here at DEFA we believe that the future of the country is aligned with natural gas and we expect it to play a major role in the economic development of the country in years to come. The establishment of the natural gas market will boost the development of the whole energy and industry sectors of the Republic.”

Cyprus to adopt new strategy for exploiting Aphrodite gas by 2025 - FINANCIAL MIRROR

27 August, 2019

A multi-billion-dollar revised development and production plan for exploiting the Aphrodite gas field within six years is expected to be received by the government within days, said Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis.

According to the timeframes given by the consortium, the gas field is expected to produce natural gas by 2025.

Cyprus expects to earn $9.3 bln over 18 years from exploiting its Aphrodite gas field after Nicosia renegotiated the contract in June.

A re-working of the production contract ensures Nicosia receives an average yearly income of 520 million dollars over the lifespan of the gas field. The figures are based on the average price of oil being around $70 a barrel.

Previously the consortium - Texas-based Noble Energy, which is the operator, British-Dutch giant Shell and Israel’s Delek - had no obligation to stick to a timeline, now natural gas is expected to flow from Aphrodite and be pumped to Egypt via a pipeline.

Egypt's EGAS offers three LNG cargoes for September - sources - ZAWYA / REUTERS

Ships are docked in front of Suez Canal Authority in Port Said,
Egypt July 29, 2018.REUTERS, Amr Abdallah Dalsh

27 AUGUST, 2019Jessica Jaganathan, Reuters News

SINGAPORE - Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co (EGAS) has offered three liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes for loading from the Idku plant in September, two industry sources said on Tuesday.

The cargoes are offered on a free-on-board (FOB) basis for loading over Sept. 9-11, Sept. 24-26 and Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, they said.

The tender closes on Aug. 28, they added.

Ratification of hydrocarbon licenses within August - ENERGY PRESS

27 AUG 2019

Four offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses signed by three groups of investors for areas off Crete, in the Ionian Sea and west of the Peloponnese are expected to be ratified in Greek Parliament within the next few days, possibly before the end of August, energypress sources have informed.

These licenses are significant for the reputation of the recently elected conservative New Democracy party, keen to underline its willingness to cooperate in the energy sector and draw major investments to the country.

Oil majors are involved. France’s Total heads a consortium that includes US giant ExxonMobil and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) for the two licenses off Crete, south and southwest of the island.

ELPE has joined forces with Spain’s Repsol for a license in the Ionian Sea, while ELPE is the sole participant in the offshore license west of the Peloponnese.

Shell to drill Montu well at West Delta concession this month - ENTERPRISE

Tuesday, 27 August 2019

Shell is set to begin drilling at the Montu well in its West Delta deep marine concession in the Mediterranean Sea this month, the company said in a statement. 

The Discoverer India drillship will drill 6k meters below the water’s surface, setting a new record as the deepest well in Egypt. 

The well is estimated to have a reserve of 4.7 tcf of natural gas and will take five months to drill.

BP to drill new wells in Atoll, Katameya fields in Nile Delta - ENTERPRISE

Tuesday, 27 August 2019

BP is preparing to drill two new wells in the Atoll and Katameya natural gas fields in its North Damietta offshore concession in the Nile Delta, according to an Oil Ministry statement. 

The drilling work will cost USD 280 mn. 

The Atoll field is expected to produce 100 mcf/d of gas when it comes online in 4Q2020, while the Katameya field will produce 60 mcf/d of gas from 2Q2020.

Egypt- First well of Baltim South West gas field to start production within days: Petrobel - MENAFN

8/27/2019 6:08:03 PM

(MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Belayim Petroleum (Petrobel) completed the construction of 18 km-long, 26-inch-diameter offshore production line and 25 km-long, 26-inch-diameter onshore line, as well as the manufacture and installation of the offshore production platform within the development of the Baltim South West gas field, three months ahead of schedule.

Atef Hassan, chairperson of Petrobel, said the field's first well is expected to enter production in the coming days, and it is planned to complete drilling five more wells in 2019/20, bringing the total production of the field to about 500m cubic feet per day (scf/day).

The financial results of the company presented to the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El-Mulla, showed that Petrobel succeeded in implementing an integrated action plan supported by all partners to achieve its objectives as an operating company and achieved positive performance indicators and results.

GUPCO plans to inject $1.2bn investments within two years - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Monday August 26, 2019

Mohamed Farag 

Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company (GUPCO) plans to bring total investments in the fiscal years (FY) 2019/20 and 2020/21 up to $1.2bn to expand research, exploration, and development activities. The company aims to drill 13 new wells and carry out 12 repair operations, which will contribute to increasing production to targeted rates.

Geologist Khaled Hamdan, chairperson of GUPCO, said during his meeting with the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El-Molla, that an ambitious work plan is being implemented to expand the activities of oil and gas research and development in Ras Shuqair (Ras Shukheir) area in the Gulf of Suez, which also include developing the quality of infrastructure and production facilities in the region.

The results of GUPCO operations showed that the average production from its fields in Ras Shuqair amounted to about 61,700 barrels of crude oil per day during FY 2018/19, and that there is a plan to increase production from Ras Shuqair fields during the current fiscal year to about 73,000 barrels per day.