Anastasiades to meet Pence at the White House - CYPRUS MAIL / CNA

US Vice President Pence

June 3, 2017
CNA News Service

President Nicos Anastasiades will meet next week with US Vice President Mike Pence. According to well-informed sources in Washington, the meeting will take place on Thursday, June 8, at 2pm local time (6pm GMT).

Last February, the president accepted an invitation to address the American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum, on June 5. At the same time, Nicosia sought to arrange a meeting between Anastasiades and President Donald Trump, as well as with Pence. The last time a

President from Cyprus visited the White House was in 1996.
CNA said a meeting with Trump should not be ruled out while another possibility is that the US President will briefly attend the Anastasiades – Pence meeting.

Gazprom, DEPA, and Edison ink Cooperation Agreement on southern route for Russian gas supplies to Europe - GAZPROM

Kitsakos, Miller, Benayoun at signing ceremony

June 2, 2017, 15:00

Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom, Marc Benayoun, CEO of Edison and Executive Vice President of the EDF Group, and Theodoros Kitsakos, CEO of DEPA, today signed a Cooperation Agreement at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2017.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Carlo Calenda, Minister of Economic Development of Italy, and Giorgos Tsipras, Secretary General for International Economic Relations at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

EUROPIPE to provide pipes for Egypt’s Zohr project - WORLD PIPELINES

Friday, 02 June 2017 09:25

Stephanie Roker

The EUROPIPE GmbH will be delivering 132 000 t (227 km) of thick walled offshore large diameter pipes, measuring 26 in. dia. (660 mm) for the development of the Zohr gas field located off Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline.

The order was booked by Salzgitter Mannesmann International GmbH, a trading subsidiary of the Group. The large diameter pipes that are scheduled for delivery from May to December 2016. EUROPIPE's shareholders are to supply the input material for manufacturing the large diameter pipes.

No, Europe Won't Get Turkmen Gas by 2019 - THE DIPLOMAT

June 02, 2017

Casey Michel

Turkmenistan’s no closer to seeing its gas reach the European markets it once envisioned.
A few years ago, as Europe roiled in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of southern Ukraine, representatives from Brussels cast about for any and all alternatives to gas imports from Russia. Including domestic fracking and LNG terminals, European officials began to push for the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor, which would transit Azerbaijan’s gas stock toward European markets via both the Trans-Adriatic (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) pipelines.

Eni commissions deepwater wells offshore Cyprus, Portugal - OFFSHORE MAGAZINE

JUNE/02/2017

Offshore staff

SAN DONATO MILANESE, Italy – Eni has contracted Saipem’s drillship Saipem 12000 for two deepwater wells offshore Cyprus.

The program is due to start in 4Q. Thereafter, the vessel will sail to Portugal for operations previously announced in 2016 but subsequently postponed by Eni.

Saipem’s semisub Scarabeo 9 will also drill one well, plus an optional well, for the same operator in the Black Sea.

The rig, which has been in service since 2011, is said to be undergoing innovative upgrades, expenses for which are included in the contract.

These upgrades will allow the rig to pass through the Bosphorus.

Value of these contracts, and another for use of the Saipem 12000 offshore Mozambique, is around $230 million.

Minister of Energy: Hydrocarbons could be an incentive for Turkey on the Cyprus issue - FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE CYPRUS / CNA

Friday, 02 June, 2017

Minister of Energy Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said that discovery of hydrocarbons in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone could be an incentive for Turkey to resolve the Cyprus issue, while reiterating that the government`s firm position is that the national problem is not related in any way to hydrocarbon designs and activities.

The Minister spoke in an open debate on "Energy as an economic parameter and as a factor in the solution of the Cyprus problem", organized in Larnaca.

Analyzing the subject of the debate, the Minister said that "at all levels of the government, our firm position is that our national problem is in no way linked to our hydrocarbon designs and activities." “Nevertheless”, he continued, "we know that hydrocarbons could be an incentive for Turkey to resolve the Cyprus problem."

Total JV Looks to Explore Offshore Crete - RIGZONE

Thursday, June 01, 2017Rigzone Staff

The joint venture of Total, ExxonMobil and Hellenic Petroleum has submitted an official application to the Ministry of Environment and Energy expressing its interest to explore for hydrocarbons in two adjusted offshore blocks in Crete.

The three companies anticipate that the Greek State will accept the application and release an international tender, according to a statement from Hellenic Petroleum.

“If indeed the existence of exploitable hydrocarbons is verified, it is certain that our country will enter a new era, with obvious benefits for the national economy and the local communities, and will contribute to the geopolitical and energy upgrade of Greece,” Hellenic Petroleum President E. Tsotsoros said in a company statement.

Energy islands: Symbols of transformation and independence - EURACTIV

1 June 2017
Stuart Reigeluth

Malta epitomises the value of islands in leading the transition to cleaner sources of energy, and ultimately in symbolising the potential for energy independence, writes Stuart Reigeluth.

South of Sicily, east of Tunisia, north of Libya, Malta seems far from Europe as the Mediterranean Member State par excellence, encapsulating all the dynamic hybridity of cultural exchange between the different sides of the sea. But it’s not so much its geographic location that make Malta fitting for representing the energy transition, rather that it is essentially a big limestone sitting on an aquifer, meaning that it’s water and energy sources are paramount to its survival.

Like most islands, Malta has been nearly 100% dependent on imported fossil fuels. And in addition, being located on a limestone, Malta relies on numerous desalination plants to provide clean water to its inhabitants and tourists. The problem with desalination is that it takes all the minerals out of the water (most people end up buying bottled water for drinking) and the process is very energy-intensive, which means more pollution and waste if renewables are not integrated properly.

Turkish group to buy majority stake in gas distribution company from Gazprom - HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

June/01/2017

Turkey’s Şen Group has struck a deal with Gazprom to buy a 71 percent stake in the Bosphorus Gaz Corp, a natural gas distribution company, it said in a statement on June 1.

Following approvals from energy and competition authorities, the group will assume ownership all of the gas distribution company, Turkey’s first private natural gas importer.

“Our decision to acquire all the stakes of Bosphorus Gaz shows our confidence in Turkey’s strong economic performance and high growth potential in the energy sector,” said Bosphorus Gaz Managing Director Adnan Şen.

Greece’s Energean inks deals to supply Israeli gas to Dalia and Or - NEW EUROPE

May 31, 2017 09:00
New Europe Online/KG

Dalia and Or will purchase part of their gas requirements from Karish-Tanin to operate the Dalia power plant as well as future power plants to be built by Or

Greece’s Energean Oil & Gas announced on May 30 that its subsidiary Energean Israel has signed with Dalia Power Energies and its sister company – Or Power Energies, two agreements for the supply of natural gas from the Karish and Tanin fields, offshore Israel.

Dalia and Or will purchase part of their gas requirements from Karish-Tanin to operate the Dalia power plant, the largest private power station in Tzafit, south-central Israel, as well as future power plants to be built by Or, Energean said.

Recovery of Libya’s largest oil field boosts OPEC country's output - WORLD OIL

5/31/2017
Hatem Mohareb, Saleh Sarrar, Salma El Wardany

DUBAI (Bloomberg) -- Libya’s biggest oil field boosted production, allowing the OPEC nation to pump crude at the highest level since October 2014.

Crude from Sharara field rose by 25,000 bpd to 250,000 bbl, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak to the media. Libya’s output rose to 827,000 bpd after the increase in output from Sharara, Mustafa Sanalla, head of the state-run National Oil Corp., said in a text message.

The revival in Libyan crude production comes after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied suppliers agreed on May 25 to extend a deal to cut production to battle a global oversupply until the end of March. The recent increase in Libyan output may undercut OPEC’s strategy to re-balance the market and prop up prices.

Israel observes large scale maritime drill launched in Cyprus - JERUSALEM POST

MAY 31, 2017 17:45 
ANNA AHRONHEIM

“The exercise helps promote maritime safety and security in the region.”

A four-day international maritime drill known as Exercise Argonaut kicked off in Cyprus on Wednesday with 22 countries taking part in scenarios such as terrorist hijackings as well as coping with an influx of civilians fleeing a conflict in the Middle East.

Israel has sent representatives as observers and will not participate in the annual maritime search and rescue and non-combatant evacuation exercise, which includes the navies from Cyprus, Greece, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Hungary, and the United States.

The drill will take place within the territorial, maritime and aerial boundaries of the Larnaca district, within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and flight information region (FIR) of the Republic of Cyprus.

Zohr is just the beginning – Spectrum Geo - INTERFAX GLOBAL ENERGY

31 May 2017
Silvia Favasuli

The discovery of the Zohr gas field offshore Egypt has changed the industry’s understanding of the geology of the Mediterranean Sea, showing new potential for fossil fuel reservoirs in the basin, according to seismic data specialist Spectrum Geo.

Spectrum has collected and analysed 2D seismic data from the Mediterranean Basin in a search for carbonate reef build-ups similar to the one containing Zohr. 

The data shows that about five Zohr-like gas fields may be hiding in the Mediterranean, Karyna Rodriguez, vice president of geosciences at Spectrum Geo, told Interfax Natural Gas Daily.

El Molla meets with Total executives to discuss exploration opportunities - ENTERPRISE / AL AHRAM

Wednesday, 31 May 2017

Oil Minister Tarek El Molla met yesterday with Total Egypt’s Managing Director Jean-Pascale Clémençon and the Vice President of Total’s Middle East and North Africa division Elias Kassis to discuss the company’s oil and gas exploration projects in the Mediterranean and the Delta area, Al Ahram reports.

Kassis told El Molla that the company is committed to its investment plan in Egypt, including its activities at the North Mahalla onshore concession.

Phase One Drilling Complete on Zohr - PETROLEUM AFRICA

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

First flows from the Zohr field off the coast of Egypt have moved a step closer as the operator, ENI, has completed drilling work on all eight wells in the first phase of the development.

ENI, who is partnered with BP and Rosneft on the Shorouk Concession where the Zohr field is located, is currently focusing on setting up the pipeline that will transport the gas for processing.

Natural gas production from Zohr field is expected to reach its peak in 2020, at a rate of 2.7 Bcf/d.

ELPE’s Thessaloniki-Fyrom oil pipeline closer to reopening - ENERGY PRESS

30.5.2017

Talks for the reopening of an oil pipeline running from ELPE’s (Hellenic Petroleum) refinery in Thessaloniki to another company-owned refinery in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom) appear likely to resume following the seeming normalization of the political arena in the neighboring country as a result of the recent elections.

Fyrom’s new government, headed by Prime Minister-designate Zoran Zaev, set to assume power in June, will today seek a vote of confidence in parliament with the aim of restoring political normalization. This initiative is expected to unblock various investments, including the ELPE-controlled oil pipeline.

Dana Gas’ board of directors approves carrying out limited drilling activities in Egypt - ENTERPRISE

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Dana Gas’ board of directors has approved carrying out limited drilling activities in Egypt. 

“In light of the recent collections received from the Egyptian government the board considered and approved that additional limited drilling activities should be carried out,” the company said in a bourse statement picked up Gulf News. 

Egypt made payments last week covering 25% of the arrears owed to Dana Gas in 1Q17. The company says it is owed USD 275 mn as of the end of 1Q17.

Add Energy awarded £1 million contract with BP in Egypt - ADD ENERGY

May 29, 2017

Add Energy, the international energy consultancy provider, has been awarded a maintenance build contract worth more than £1 million with BP for work on West Nile Delta (WND), a development located just off the north coast of Egypt.

The contract, worth almost £1.4 million, will see Add Energy carry out the development of a full asset maintenance build and will include the delivery of an asset register and functional hierarchy build, equipment criticality assignment, development of maintenance strategies for critical and non-critical equipment, job plans and procedures, critical sparing and Bill of Materials (BoMs) development.

The Add Energy project team will be operating from Aberdeen, and will require the project manager and principal consultant to travel to the BP WND project offices in London over the course of the 18-month project.

SDX Energy announces well test results at South Disouq discovery - WORLD OIL

5/29/2017

LONDON -- SDX Energy Inc., the North Africa focused oil and gas company, is pleased to announce the results of the well test conducted on the SD-1X well following the recent natural gas discovery at South Disouq, Egypt, where the Company has a 55% Operated working interest.

The SD-1X well was drilled to a TD of 7,777 ft, and encountered 82 ft of net pay with an average porosity of 25% in the Abu-Madi section.

Well test operations have now commenced and the well has successfully flowed dry natural gas at a stabilised rate of 25.8 MMscfd on a 48/64-in. choke. This flow rate exceeded initial expectations and was limited by the surface facilities put in place to test the well. The well has now been shut in for an initial build-up after which a series of additional flowing periods will be conducted and fluid samples taken. 

Hydrocarbon exploration set to open up next year - KATHIMERINI / REUTERS

29.05.2017 : 22:39

Greece will begin the process of opening up new onshore oil and gas prospects to exploration next year, the chief executive of the country’s oil and gas resources management company said on Monday.

Among the first will be the Greek region of Grevena, close to where the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will cross, Yannis Bassias, head of the Hellenic Hydrocarbons Resources Management (HHRM), told Reuters in an interview.

TAP, which will bring new gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Italy, runs across northern Greek territory.

“As of next year, and perhaps earlier, we will begin announcing that we are opening the door to whoever is interested in onshore sites,” Bassias told Reuters.

UPDATE 1-Greece's Energean to supply 23 bcm of gas to Israeli power stations - REUTERS

Sun May 28, 2017 | 2:13am EDT
Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Tova Cohen

Greece's Energean said on Sunday it signed contracts to supply up to 23 billion cubic meters of natural gas to private Israeli power stations from the Tanin and Karish gas fields offshore Israel.

The deals were signed with Dalia Power, which operates Israel's largest private power station, and Or Power, which is planning to build new power plants, Energean said in a statement.

Financial details of the deals were not disclosed.

Energean, a private exploration and production company in the eastern Mediterranean, bought the Karish and Tanin licenses from Israel's Delek Group in December 2016 for an upfront cost of $40 million and $108.5 million in contingent payments.

Cyprus moving towards a second fuel storage terminal - CYPRUS MAIL

May 28, 2017

Discussions between the Cyprus Organisation for Storage and Management of Oil Stocks (KODAP) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the financing of a fuel storage terminal are progressing smoothly, KODAP President Panagiotis Malekos has told Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

Malekos said EIB officials visited Cyprus for a main evaluation mission in early 2017, adding the process is expected to conclude in the coming months with the final loan approval.

The state-owned fuel storage terminal’s cost is expected to exceed €40 million and construction works are expected to begin at the end of 2017 or early 2018. This will be Cyprus’ second storage terminal following the operation of a private-owned terminal operated by VTTV, a subsidiary of VTTI, in Vasilikos.