Cyprus, Noble Energy conclude deal on exploiting natural gas field - XINHUA

2019-03-13 04:20:47|Editor: yan

NICOSIA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and a consortium led by U.S.-based Noble Energy company have concluded an agreement on the terms of exploiting a natural gas field from which gas will be exported to Egypt, Cypriot state television reported on Tuesday.

Citing a competent government source, it said the two sides have ironed out pending issues relating to the ratio of participation of the sides involved in the revenue from the selling of natural gas, adding that what is left is to couch the deal in legal jargon.

Noble Energy leads the operation for sending gas to Egypt after building an undersea pipe, in association with British Gas and Israeli Delek Drilling, each of the three companies holding about one third of the share.

Noble Energy asked the Cypriot government last year to renegotiate the revenue sharing agreement for the 4.5 trillion cubic feet Aphrodite gas finding.

Aphrodite lies in block 12 of Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and it is Cyprus's first gas finding, discovered in 2011.

Exxon drilling due to re-start after delay, president says - CYPRUS MAIL

Anastasiades (C), Tsipras (L), Netanyahu (R), with spouses
December 20, 2018, Israel

JANUARY 4, 2019 

Peter Michael

ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum’s drilling activities in block 10 will re-start before the weekend is over President Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday, after reports said activity ceased for 10-days due to a technical difficulty.

In statements to CyBC, the president confirmed the technical issue, but added that it would be solved before long. “The essence is that the energy plans move forward in regards to the research stage,” Anastasiades said.

He added the agreement on the Aphrodite field in block 12 of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) needed to be completed and that the cooperation of the companies working in the area and the states needed to be secured.

“The government’s hope is that the French company Total will also be involved in the other blocks.”

Regarding research in block 10, the president added that the research stage was advanced and that after drilling in the block’s Delphine target, a second drilling would be conducted in the block’s Glafcos target.

Gas pipeline deal reached with Egypt – CyBC - CYPRUS MAIL

AUGUST 6, 2018
Evie Andreou 

Nicosia has reached an agreement with Cairo on a pipeline to connect the Aphrodite gas field in block 12 to Egypt, it was reported on Monday.

According to state broadcaster CyBC, the inter-state agreement is expected to be signed in the autumn.

The two countries had signed in 2017 a preliminary agreement to transport natural gas from Cyprus to Egypt to be liquefied at Egypt’s LNG facilities and re-exported to Europe and other markets.

CyBC, citing diplomatic sources, said that the agreement has already been given the green light by the EU and it is being scrutinised for the final touches.

Cyprus demarcated its maritime border with Egypt in 2003. The Aphrodite gas field, discovered in December 2011 by Houston-based Noble Energy, is estimated to hold some 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.

CYPRUS: Gas pipeline to Egypt a done deal but there is a snag - FINANCIAL MIRROR

07 August, 2018

Nicosia and Cairo have agreed to build a gas pipeline from the Aphrodite field in Block 12 to Egypt, but those reserves could remain untapped in a row over profits.

The deal could come unstuck if the government does not strike a compromise on profit sharing with the consortium licensed to exploit Block 12.

CyBC TV said the agreement, already approved by Brussels, is undergoing the finishing touches before it is signed at an official ceremony in the Autumn.

An Energy Ministry official has briefed the political parties on new demands by US firm Noble, UK-Dutch Shell and Israel’s Delek to exploit Aphrodite gas.

They want a change in the product-sharing contract which outlines the percentage of revenues to be received by the state in any commercial deal.

The three companies have proposed a ratio change of 60-40 in favour of the Republic of Cyprus be reversed so that Noble, Shell and Delek receive the lion’s share of the 60% instead.

Such a reversal in the profit ratio would see the state lose in the region of €2.5 bln to the consortium.

Gas pipeline deal reached with Egypt – CyBC - CYPRUS MAIL

AUGUST 6TH, 2018
Evie Andreou

Nicosia has reached an agreement with Cairo on a pipeline to connect the Aphrodite gas field in block 12 to Egypt, it was reported on Monday.

According to state broadcaster CyBC, the inter-state agreement is expected to be signed in the autumn.

The two countries had signed in 2017 a preliminary agreement to transport natural gas from Cyprus to Egypt to be liquefied at Egypt’s LNG facilities and re-exported to Europe and other markets.

CyBC, citing diplomatic sources, said that the agreement has already been given the green light by the EU and it is being scrutinised for the final touches.

Cyprus demarcated its maritime border with Egypt in 2003. The Aphrodite gas field, discovered in December 2011 by Houston-based Noble Energy, is estimated to hold some 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.

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.