Houston, Sept. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) ("Noble Energy" or "the Company") today announced the execution of a gas sales and purchase agreement (GSPA) to supply natural gas from the Leviathan field to the National Electric Power Company Ltd. (NEPCO) ofJordan for consumption in power production facilities. Under terms of the GSPA, Noble Energy and the Leviathan partners will supply a gross quantity of approximately 1.6 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas from the Leviathan field, or 300 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) over a 15-year term. The buyer has an option to purchase an incremental 50 MMcf/d for a total of up to 350 MMcf/d.
Natural gas supplied under this agreement will include industry-typical take-or-pay commitments, with pricing linked to Brent oil and a firm floor price. Gross contract revenues are estimated to be approximately $10 billion.
This GSPA follows a previously-announced agreement with the Jordan Bromine Company and the Arab Potash Company, which will establish first gas exports to Jordan from the Tamar field in late 2016.J. Keith Elliott, Senior Vice President, Eastern Mediterranean, commented, "We look forward to supplying natural gas resources for energy and economic development to the people of Jordan. This first export GSPA for Leviathan further underpins the volumes supporting project sanction. Including Israel sales contracts, this brings total contracted volumes to between 400 MMcf/d and 450 MMcf/d. The approved Plan of Development incorporates an expandable platform, which will enable us to accelerate Leviathan first gas while maintaining the ability to increase production capacity to meet growing future demand. While continuing to advance negotiations with additional Israeli industrial and power companies and other regional customers, we are also progressing the other work streams necessary for a Final Investment Decision as early as the end of 2016."
The Company expects to complete construction and field development to deliver first gas from Leviathan in as little as three years following sanction. Subject to regulatory approvals from Israel and Jordan, sales to NEPCO are anticipated to commence at field startup. The initial Leviathan field development will be a subsea tie-back to a shallow-water platform with a pipeline connection through to Jordan.
Noble Energy operates Leviathan with a 39.66 percent working interest. Other interest owners are Delek Drilling with 22.67 percent, Avner Oil Exploration with 22.67 percent, and Ratio Oil Exploration (1992) Limited Partnership with the remaining 15 percent. The Leviathan field has an estimated 22 Tcf of recoverable natural gas resources.
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