Regional conflict prompts Chevron to halt Leviathan pipelay - OFFSHORE

Oct. 8, 2024

The Leviathan reservoir was discovered in December 2010 by NewMed Energy (with a working interest of 45.3%), Chevron (which was called 'Noble Energy' at the time, with a working interest of 39.7%) and Ratio (with a working interest of 15%).

The Leviathan reservoir was discovered in December 2010 by NewMed Energy (with a working interest of 45.3%), Chevron (which was called "Noble Energy" at the time, with a working interest of 39.7%) and Ratio (with a working interest of 15%).

Chevron Mediterranean suspended installation activities related to the third subsea gas export pipeline from the deepwater Leviathan field offshore Israel to the near-shore platform on Oct. 6.

Subsea structures in place at Karish offshore Israel - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

Allseas' Solitaire & TechnipFMC's Normand Cutter at Karish

22 Jun 2020

LONDON – TechnipFMC and Allseas have completed two major components of Energean’s Karish gas project in the Mediterranean Sea, offshore Israel.

Allseas’ Solitaire completed installation of the 90.3-km (56-mi), 30-in. and 24.in gas sales pipeline in water depths of up to 1,700 m (5,577 ft).

The full program included placement of a tie-in manifold structure in 72 m (236 ft) water depth.

On average, excluding the beach pull, the rate of laying was 4,578 m/d (15,019 ft/d).

TechnipFMC’s construction support vessel Normand Cutter installed the production manifold, subsea isolation valve foundations and structures.

During 4Q, installation should get under way of the three sets of risers - 2 x10-in. and 1 x 16-in. - that will connect the three producing wells to the FPSO and then to the gas sales pipeline, finishing in 1Q 2021.

Currently the Karish development is around 80% complete, Energean said.

Deepwater Leviathan gas project secures Israel’s energy needs - OFFSHORE

Jan 22nd, 2020
Jeremy Beckman

Leviathan is Israel’s third offshore natural gas field development and the most ambitious to date for operator Noble Energy.

Leviathan is Israel’s third offshore natural gas field development and the most ambitious to date for operator Noble Energy. Discovered in 2010 by Noble and partners Delek Drilling and Ratio Oil Exploration, Leviathan, as its name suggests, is a deepwater giant. The field contains an estimated 35 tcf in-place and 22 tcf recoverable. The first phase of Leviathan development consists of four subsea production wells tied back to a shallow water production platform where gas will be processed to meet pipeline specifications. Its initial 1.2 bcf/d throughput will more than double the production capacity connected to the Israeli grid, meeting Israel’s growing domestic demand while enabling exports to neighboring countries and global gas markets. And the topsides installation completed last September, was the first commercial test of Sleipnir, the world’s newest and largest semisubmersible heavy lift crane vessel.

The field is situated 129 km (80 mi) west of Haifa in the gas-prolific Levantine basin - other nearby discoveries include the Noble-operated Tamar; its Aphrodite field offshore southeast Cyprus; and Eni’s Zohr off northeast Egypt. Transocean’s semisub Sedco Express drilled the Leviathan-1 discovery well in November 2010 in 1,645 m (5,397 ft) of water in what was then the Rachel license, finding gas in a similar geological/depositional setting to Tamar in various sub-salt Miocene intervals.

Energean identifies Zeus as next drilling target offshore Israel - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

Nov 13th, 2019

ATHENS, Greece – Energean plans a 5.4-km (3.36-mi) subsea tieback of its recent Karish North discovery offshore Israel to the FPSO Energean Power.

This follows completion of side track appraisal operations at the well, which have confirmed a best estimate recoverable resource of 0.9 tcf of gas and 34 MMbbl of light oil/condensate (combined around 190 MMboe).

The Energean Power is being constructed with a gas production capacity of 8 bcm/yr (775 MMcf/d).

The drillship Stena DrillMAX has now relocated to complete the three Karish Main development wells, after which the vessel will drill the Zeus exploration prospect, targeting 0.6 tcf across three reservoir intervals.

Strong results from initial Karish wells offshore Israel - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

Sep 12th, 2019

ATHENS, Greece – Energean has issued updates (Results For Half Year Ended 30 June 2019) on its development and exploration campaigns in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

The main project is the Karish/Tanin gas development offshore Israel, where the drillship Stena DrillMAX recently completed drilling of two of the Karish Main wells.

In both cases, the outcome was positive, with a 45-m (147-ft) gross gas column encountered in the D-sands interval. Also, fluid samples from the main reservoir indicate a higher than foreseen condensate ratio.

Drilling of the final well in the program, Karish Main-01, is under way and this is expected to finish during 4Q. The three wells will deliver an initial 4.3 bcm of gas sales into the Israeli domestic market.

Later this year the FPSO hull is due to sail from China to Singapore.

In July, Israel’s Petroleum Council awarded Energean and Israel Opportunity – Energy Resource four new offshore licenses (55, 56, 61, and 62) for block D, 45 km (28 mi) from the coast.

Energean growing Mediterranean operations with Edison E&P acquisition - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

Edison E&P portfolio overview

Jul 8th, 2019

LONDON – Energean has conditionally agreed to acquire Edison Exploration & Production (Edison E&P) from Italy’s Edison for $750 million.

An additional $100 million could be payable following first gas from the Cassiopea gas development offshore Sicily, which is expected to come onstream in 2022. Eni discovered the field in 2008, reportedly in a water depth of 560 m (1,837 ft) and 22 km (13.7 mi) from the coast of Agrigentos.

Edison E&P has producing assets in Egypt, Italy, Algeria, the UK North Sea and Croatia; development assets in Egypt, Italy and Norway; and exploration opportunities across the portfolio.

The company has 2P reserves of 292 MMboe and 2018 net production of 69,000 boe/d.

Energean’s goal is to become the leading independent, gas-focused E&P company in the Mediterranean region, and the Edison portfolio should complement its own interests, the company said.

The enlarged group will have total 2P reserves of 639 MMboe and will be one of the largest independent E&P companies listed on the London and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchanges.

Cyprus’ gas export future uncertain, despite discoveries - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

Jun 3rd, 2019

LONDON – Exploration to date offshore southern Cyprus has proven around 11 tcf of recoverable gas, according to Wood Mackenzie.

Whether the discoveries can be commercialized remains to be seen, said Robert Morris, senior analyst: Caspian and Europe Upstream Oil and Gas.

Cyprus has no domestic gas market only limited potential for development, he pointed out, but there are options for exporting the gas.

One would be through Egypt’s under-used liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure to the south. This would offer the lowest cost with the fastest time to market and potentially the best netbacks.

But Egypt’s own recent offshore gas finds, including the giant deepwater Zohr field, mean that the LNG facilities are getting busier. This means the earliest for significant spare capacity for Cypriot gas could be 2025 – further if Egypt’s run of successes continue.

Zohr offshore Egypt building to peak gas capacity - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

FEB/01/2019

MOSCOW – Gas produced from the deepwater Zohr field in the Egyptian sector of the Mediterranean Sea totaled 12.2 bcm last year, according to partner Rosneft.

During the second half of the year, output increased almost fourfold compared with H1, when production amounted to 3.1 bcm.

Over the course of 2018, the treatment capacity was increased in stages from 11.3 MMcm/d (400 MMcf/d) to the current 56.6 MMcm/d (2 bcf/d), in line with the development plan and the gas sales agreement.

Rosneft expects gas output to reach the design capacity of 76 MMcm/d (2.7 bcf/d) by the end of 2019.

Zohr holds estimated in-place volumes of 850 bcm. Other partners are Eni, BP, and Mubadala Petroleum.

Bahr Essalam Phase 2 goes onstream offshore Libya - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

JULY/05/2018

SAN DONATO MILANESE, Italy – Mellitah Oil & Gas, the joint venture between Eni and Libya’s NOC, has started production from the first well of the Bahr Essalam Phase 2 project in the Mediterranean Sea offshore Libya.

Start-up was three years after the final investment decision. Two further wells are due to enter production during the next few days. With a further seven set to come onstream by October.

Phase 2 will complete development of the country’s largest producing gas field, Eni said, increasing its production potential by 400 MMcf/d.

By October, the field’s total output should reach 1.1 bcf/d.

Bahr Essalam, 120 km (75 mi) northwest of Tripoli, contains more than 260 bcm of gas. This is delivered through the Sabratha platform to the onshore Mellitah treatment plant, with most of the supplies directed to Libya’s national network.

Saipem/PMS to manage Zohr life of field operations - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

JUNE/29/2018

SAN DONATO MILANESE, Italy – Saipem, in a consortium with Petroleum Marine Services (PMS), has won a contract to provide life of field operations for Petrobel’s deepwater Zohr gas field development in the Egyptian sector of the Mediterranean Sea.

Operations will be managed from PMS’ DP-2 vessel Ahmed Fadel, with Saipem subsidiary Sonsub performing subsea equipment management and servicing.

Stefano Porcari, director of operations of Saipem’s Offshore E&C division, said: “This contract confirms Saipem’s leadership position…as a provider of global offshore solutions, from concept to end-of-life of a subsea field.”

Corinth to manufacture Karish steel pipes - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

JUNE/08/2018

MAROUSSI, Greece – TechnipFMC has contracted Corinth Pipeworks Pipe Industry to manufacture and supply steel pipes for Energean’s Karish gas field development in the Mediterranean Sea offshore Israel.

The agreement covers 90 km (56 mi) of 24-in. and 30-in. LSAW pipe material for the offshore gas pipeline: this will connect the subsea manifold at a maximum water depth of 1,750 m (5,741 ft) to the receiving terminal onshore.

Pipe manufacture and coating will start at Corinth Pipeworks facility in Greece later this year.

Partners commit to drill at South Ramadan offshore Egypt - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

MAY/17/2018

LONDON – An appraisal well will spud by mid-year on the South Ramadan license in the Gulf of Suez offshore Egypt, according to partner SDX Energy.

This will be up-dip from one of the previous producing wells in the field. 

Total cost of the work program this year will be around $23.5 million, including some platform remediation work and a well workover, both dependent on the success of the appraisal well.

South Ramadan group to seek rig for development drilling - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

March/29/2018


LONDON – SDX Energy has issued an update on operations at the South Ramadan concession in the Gulf of Suez offshore Egypt.

The partners have completed the final sub-surface technical work in connection with an evaluation of development options.

They have opted to drill a development well up-dip of one of the previous producing wells on the field. Depending on rig availability, this will be drilled either early in the current quarter or late in 3Q 2018.

Total cost of the 2018 program will be around $23.5 million including platform remediation work and a well workover (both dependent on a success outcome of the development well).

Edison takes on Shah Deniz gas supply contract - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

DEC/06/2017

MILAN, Italy – Edison has agreed to acquire Gas Natural Vendita Italia (GNVI) from Gas Natural Fenosa for Eu192.8 million ($228 million).

GNVI supplied gas and electricity last year to 420,000 residential and 14,000 SME users in Italy.

Under the agreement, Edison will also assume an 11-TWh long-term gas supply contract from the Shah Deniz II development project in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea.

Gas imports from the project are set to begin at the end of 2020 following the completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

Total consideration payable for the gas supply contract is Eu30 million ($35.5 million), starting from 2021 subject to the first delivery of gas to Italy through the TAP pipeline.

Indian, Greek E&P groups bid for licenses offshore Israel -OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

11/29/2017

HAIFA, Israel – Israel’s government has closed the country’s 1st offshore licensing round.

The Ministry of Energy received bids from Athens-based Energean, which is currently developing the offshore Karish and Tanin gas fields; and from a consortium of Indian companies comprising ONGC Videsh, Bharat PetroResources, Indian Oil Corp., and Oil India.

Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Energy, said: “This bid round is the first step in a long-term process that would lead to full exploitation of gas and oil resources in the Israeli EEZ for the benefit of the Israeli citizens.

“We are planning to launch a 2nd licensing round in 2018, where lessons learned from the 1st bid round will be incorporated, and thus continue the effort to develop these strategic assets in the Israel’s exclusive economic zone.”

Fugro deploys vessel for coring at Zohr - ENTERPRISE / OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

Sunday, 19 November 2017

Geotechnical and survey services provider Fugro is sending its vessel MV Kobi Ruegg on it first project in the Egyptian sector of the Mediterranean, Offshore Magazine reports. 

“The three-year-old, 58-m (190-ft) long vessel, contracted by Saipem, will deploy a large diameter piston core system to obtain soil samples from the ultra-deepwater Zohr gas field. 

Its next assignments will be geophysical surveys for Pico and Shell… From its new home port of Abu Qir, it will undertake marine site characterization services for Fugro’s clients in the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea.” 

The values of the contracts were not disclosed.

Edison receives first package from East Med 3D survey - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

October/17/2017

Offshore staff

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, UK – Shearwater GeoServices has supplied a 3D fasttrack pre-stack depth migration (PreSDM) product for Edison International from a new 3D SHarp broadband dataset in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Simon Telfer, VP Processing and Imaging at Shearwater, said: “Edison required a PreSDM volume within weeks of completing the 3D acquisition. Our Onboard Processing and Depth Imaging groups worked closely to draw up a plan and deliver…

“We delivered to Edison a full 3D pre-stack depth migration product, including broadband processing and iterative model-building in just over four weeks from the final acquired shot record.”

Bahr Essalam, Zohr development phases nearing completion - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

AUG/07/2017

TRIPOLI, Libya – Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi has held talks with two North African leaders concerning major ongoing offshore development projects.

In Tripoli, Descalzi met Fayez al-Sarraj, Head of the Presidential Council of the Libyan government of National Accord, and the president of the state oil company Mustafa Sanalla.

High on the agenda was the second phase of development of the Bahr Essalam field, one of Libya’s largest offshore reservoirs and a source of gas supply for the Greenstream trunkline in the Mediterranean Sea.

Nine of the 10 offshore wells have been drilled, and Eni anticipates first gas in 2018.

West Nile Delta flows first gas offshore Egypt - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

04/27/2017
Offshore staff

LUXEMBOURG – Gas production has started ahead of schedule at BP’s West Nile Delta Phase One project offshore Egypt, according to Subsea 7.

The contractor, which provided SURF services for the project, continues to work on the West Nile Delta platform extension and tie-in and BP’s Atoll project in the same area.

Elsewhere, the company is preparing to complete the final offshore campaign later this year for Wintershall’s Maria subsea project in the Norwegian Sea.

Energean signs terms for offshore Montenegro blocks - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

Offshore Montenegro blocks 4219-26 and 4218-30
(Source: Energean Oil & Gas)

03/15/2017

Offshore staff

ATHENS, Greece – Energean Oil & Gas has signed an exploration and production concession contract with the State of Montenegro covering offshore blocks 4219-26 and 4218-30, following parliamentary approval.

Total investment over the initial seven-year exploration period will be $19 million, including funding for a new 3D seismic survey, geophysical and geological studies, and drilling of one well.

The two blocks are in a water depth of 50-100 m (164-328 ft) and close to the Montenegrin coast near the town of Bar. Energean plans to start 3D seismic acquisition during 1Q 2018.