Five Turkish warships halt SAIPEM 12000 anew from reaching target in Cyprus' EEZ - CNA

23/02/2018 13:51 
Nicosia, Maria Koniotou

SAIPEM 12000 drillship, commissioned by Italian energy company ENI, to start drilling operations in block 3 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was halted by five Turkish warships Friday morning while making a new effort to reach Soupia target, which it was unable to fulfill due to Turkish threats.

Deputy Government Spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos told the Cyprus News Agency, that after consultations between Italian company ENI and SAIPEM 12000, the captain of the drillship tried once again to drive the ship towards the Soupia (Cuttlefish) target to conduct its drilling operations.

“During its course towards block 3 and the Soupia target the drillship was halted by five Turkish warships and after threats of violence launched (by the Turks) and the threat of a collision with the drillship, despite the courageous and commendable efforts made by the captain.

Kasoulides: Turkish interference expected to increase in Cyprus’ EEZ - CYPRUS MAIL

FEBRUARY 10, 2018

Turkey’s interference in Cyprus’ energy plan is expected to increase following new discoveries in Cyprus’ EEZ, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said on Saturday in the wake of harassment reports of a drillship on Friday by Turkish navy vessels.

In statements to public broadcaster CyBC, Kasoulides said the Turkish vessels that had harassed Italian giant ENI’s ‘Saipem 12000’ drillship had forced the captain to manoeuvre out of their way and eventually come to a stop 15 nautical miles from the ‘Soupia’ (Cuttlefish) Block 3 plot, to which it was heading. ENI on Thursday announced promising findings in Block 6 of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

TEKMOR Note: It's about time Turkey realized that Cypriot EEZ is EU EEZ; it's no longer a cat chasing mouse game in and around Cyprus; there's a dog present.

Turkish vessels harass drillship in EEZ - CYPRUS MAIL / CyBC

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

Andria Kades

Turkish vessels are in the area surrounding Cyprus’ block 3 in the island’s EEZ (exclusive economic zone), it was reported on Friday.

According to government sources quoted by the state broadcaster Cybc, Turkish vessels were harassing the Saipem 12000 drillship shortly before it entered the Cuttlefish plot in block 3.

The area is an exploration target for Italian energy giant ENI.

Drilling ship arrives off Cyprus for ENI - KATHIMERINI

27.12.2017 13:28

Drilling ship Saipem 12000 entered the Cypriot exclusive economic zone on Tuesday evening to start operating in the next few days for Italy’s ENI.

The vessel will anchor at the “Kalypso” field of the zone’s Block 6, to begin exploratory drilling for hydrocarbons in the next few days.

The drilling process is expected to last for about a month, followed by another drilling for ENI at the “Soupia” (i.e. Cuttlefish) field of Block 3.

ENI chief executive officer Claudio Descalzi stated last month that his company is very optimistic about the area’s natural gas prospects, which is why it has invested 150 million euros in it.

ENI announces exploratory drills in next couple of months (updated) - CYPRUS MAIL

NOVEMBER 24, 2017

George Psyllides

Italian energy firm ENI is planning two exploratory drills for natural gas in the island’s exclusive economic zone in the next couple of months, officials said on Friday.

The announcement was made by Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis and ENI CEO Claudio Descalzi after a meeting with the president.

The first drill will take place in a field in block six named Kalypso in December, followed by a one in Cuttlefish, in block three in January.


“We have agreed on the drilling only nine months after licensing and this is record time,” Descalzi said.

Asked if he was optimistic, the CEO said his company was investing €150m and that meant it believed in the prospect and the geology of Cyprus.

“We are optimistic, we are present, and we are investing a lot,” he said.

News on ‘Onisiforos’ drilling anticipated soon - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

August 30, 2017

A clearer picture of the findings at the Cyprus’ Onisiforos-West 1 region of Block 11 is anticipated to emerge within the next few days.

As reported by Phileleftheros on Wednesday, drilling support work has been completed up to a depth of approximately 3,800 meters, and other surveys carried out up to a depth of 4,250 meters, where indications so far show the top of the field begins.

According to the paper’s sources, the indications so far are positive and the seismographic data and their interpretation, which led to the choice of the specific target, have been confirmed.

ENI goes boldly forward - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

Current status of Cyprus' (UN,EU) declared EEZ. Cyprus' northern 37,2% is illegally occupied by Turkey.

August 20, 2017
Charles Ellinas

ENI has just announced its much-expected drilling campaign in Cyprus’ EEZ, starting November. And it is a bold move. Drilling starts at Block 8 at a target named ‘Eratosthenes South 1’ (ES1), followed by a target named ‘Cuttlefish’ in Block 3, owned 80% by ENI and 20% by KOGAS, and then ‘Calypso’ in Block 6, jointly-owned with Total.

The latter is a bold move by ENI, given Turkey’s claims.

ENI has chosen to start its campaign in Block 8, where the most promising prospects probably are, completing this drilling round at Block 6, thus asserting its rights to the Block and confronting Turkey’s claims. However, the exact drilling programme is still to be finalised.

In accordance with its Production Sharing Agreements with the government of Cyprus, ENI’s drilling programme involves two wells in Blocks 2,3,9, in addition to the two unsuccessful wells drilled in 2014-2015, two in Block 8 and one in Block 6.