Energean renews Karish-Cyprus gas line bid - OIL & GAS JOURNAL

HOUSTON, May 10 2019

Energean Oil & Gas, London, has submitted an updated proposal to the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority to supply gas to the island nation from deepwater Karish field offshore Israel.

The operator proposes to lay a 200-km pipeline from the Energean Power floating production, storage, and offloading vessel, which will handle production from Karish and Tanin fields, to Vasilicos, Cyprus.

Energean first proposed a pipeline between the FPSO and Cyprus last year. The government rejected the proposal and solicited bids for a floating LNG import facility.

In a press release, Energean called its updated plan “supplementary to the LNG import procedures launched by the Cypriot government.” It said it has signed a letter of intent for supply of gas to “private power generation license holders in Cyprus.”

The FPSO, with treatment capacity of 800 MMscfd of natural gas and storage capacity of 800,000 bbl of liquids, is under construction at Zhousan, China (OGJ Online, Apr. 16, 2019).

Energean plans to develop Karish field before Tanin.

The fields are 40 km apart in water deeper than 1,700 m.

Total and ENI set to expand their presence in Cyprus’ EEZ, according to government sources - IN CYPRUS / CNA

May 10, 2019 at 3:23pm
Edited by Bouli Hadjioannou

Energy giants Total and ENI are set to expand their presence in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, and according to government sources they are expected to cooperate in hydrocarbon activities in offshore block 7.

With official announcements on the matter still pending, the same sources told CNA that the French and Italian energy companies may also cooperate in other blocks, in Cyprus’ EEZ. Discussions are being held on multiple levels, with talks between experts still underway, the same sources said.

Last November, the Ministry of Energy announced that it received a single application from joint venture Total E&P Cyprus B.V. / Eni Cyprus Limited, for a licence to carry out explorations for hydrocarbons in block 7 of Cyprus’ EEZ.

Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said on Thursday that developments should be expected in the next few days, concerning the energy programme of the Republic of Cyprus.

Offshore Deposits Offer New Horizons for Cyprus - SOUTH EU SUMMIT

May 9 2019

B. Lana Guggenheim

Thanks to new discoveries of offshore natural gas, Cyprus has a real opportunity to expand its reach in the energy market. But to do this, the island-nation needs to navigate tricky geopolitical realities - as well as expand its current infrastructure – or the opportunity may slip away.

Earlier this year, international energy players discovered two more sites rich in natural gas, just offshore of Cyprus, in Blocks 6 and 10, respectively led by Eni and Total on the one hand, and ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum, on the other. This follows previous discoveries in the area, starting as early as 2009, when prospectors discovered reserves of natural gas in the Tamar field off the coast of Israel. Subsequently came the discovery of the Leviathan field offshore of Israel, and the Aphrodite and Calypso fields in Cypriot waters. Altogether, these deposits contain an estimated 40 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – or more.

Currently, both Cyprus and Israel import their energy, but these gas fields have the potential to change all of that, as well as generate revenue via energy exports. Both Europe and Egypt are target markets for this new energy resource, especially as Europe’s demand for natural gas is likely to increase – in part to reduce its reliance on Russia, but also because gas is a cleaner alternative to coal, as the continent slowly transitions to renewable energy sources.

Sisi authorizes Oil Minister to sign contracts with DEA Suez GMBH Group - EGYPT INDEPENDENT

May 8, 2019, 3:01 pm

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi authorized Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek al-Mula to sign contracts with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and the German DEA Suez GMBH Group according to law no.9 of 2019.

According to the expected contracts, DEA Suez will explore, develop and take advantage of oil in the Ras Badran and Gulf of Oil development areas in the Gulf of Suez.

Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Wealth Tarek al-Molla signed an agreement in March with DEA for oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Suez’s Ras Badran and Ziet Bay areas with investments totaling US$20 million.

Molla said in a statement that DEA will undertake drilling activities and the operation and maintenance of the liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) extraction plant in the Gulf of Suez area.

He mentioned that the ministry has been cooperating with DEA for more than 45 years to achieve higher oil and LNG production rates in areas of the Gulf of Suez, the Delta and the Mediterranean Sea.

DEA General Manager Sameh Sabry said that the company injected US$800 million for oil and LNG exploration in the Gulf of Suez, Desouk and North Alexandria’s fields during 2017 and 2018, adding that it would possibly inject another US$700 million in the coming three years.

DEA Suez GmbH operates in the field of exploration and production of natural gas and crude oil. The Company deploys state-of-the-art drilling and production technologies. DEA Suez conducts business worldwide.

SOURCE

Erdogan Crashes the Mediterranean Gas Party - HAARETZ

May 08, 2019 7:16 PM
David Rosenberg 

Last week Turkey sparked another crisis by starting drilling in Cypriot waters. That’s a problem not just for Cyprus but for Israel, too

Even the most avid Erdogan watcher has to work hard up with all the crises the Turkish leader has wrought. This week the No. 1 crisis was election officials caving in to his demand for new elections in Istanbul. There are also the crisis over Turkey’s buying Russian S-400 missiles, the simmering war in the Syrian province of Idlib and, of course, the collapse of the Turkish economy.

If that isn’t enough, add a crisis largely playing out off center stage, but which deserves a lot more attention. That’s because it threatens to upset all the plans Israel, Egypt and Cyprus have for exploiting the vast natural gas resources of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The latest installment of the gas crisis started last Friday when Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said the Turkish seismic research vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa would be drilling for oil and gas “in areas of Turkey’s continental shelf.”

So, finally Turkey is joining the East Med gas party? Not exactly. It’s more like crashing the party: The ship is drilling deep inside Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.

Italy opposes Poseidon gas pipeline landfall - REUTERS

MAY 7, 2019 / 7:37 PM

ROME, May 7 (Reuters) - Italy will not allow the Poseidon gas pipeline being developed by Italy’s Edison and Greece’s DEPA to make landfall as planned in southern Italy, the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.

The Poseidon pipeline, which has permits to run from Greece to the southern town of Otranto, is the final section of the EastMed pipeline that aims to bring gas reserves from the east Mediterranean to Italy.

TEKMOR Note: The Poseidon pipeline was planned as the last leg of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) to transport gas from Azerbaijan via TANAP & TAP long before the idea of East Med Pipeline came into being!

“The government is certainly not interested at present in building the final tract of Poseidon as originally planned,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said at an event near Rome.

Two years ago DEPA and Edison signed a cooperation agreement with Russia’s Gazprom to set up joint efforts to create a southern route for gas into Europe.

The United States has been pressuring EU member states to find alternative natural gas supply sources not involving Russia.

Case Study: iEPCI at Karish - OFFSHORE ENGINEER

Image: TechnipFMC

April 25, 2019

Willy Gauttier 

An integrated approach to subsea services is the driving force behind a major project being performed by UK-based TechnipFMC at the deepwater Karish field, offshore Israel, in the Mediterranean Sea.

The integrated engineering, procurement, construction and installation (iEPCI) award for Energean Oil & Gas’ Karish development at 1,750 meters water depth marks the largest iEPCI project the company has undertaken to date.

The $1.4 billion Karish gas project is one of 12 iEPCI projects TechnipFMC has been awarded throughout the globe. The company’s approach to comprehensive integrated solutions is designed to strengthen the economics of subsea projects and help unlock first oil and gas faster.

The integrated full-field subsea offer includes subsea architecture design; subsea development and integrated project execution; and optional performance enhancement via inspection, maintenance and repair.

“Bringing together complementary skills and advanced technologies through integrated solutions can boost efficiency, lower costs and accelerate schedules,” said Senior Project Director Steve Duthie.

KOGAS investment in Cyprus a 'new horizon' for economic ties - KNEWS / KATHIMERINI CYPRUS

07 MAY 2019 - 14:55
Newsroom / CNA

The Republic of Korea has been a steadfast and strong partner of the Republic of Cyprus’ efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, said Tuesday the country’s new ambassador, stationed in Athens, Soosuk Lim during a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

Presenting his credentials to President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, the Ambassador said this year marks 24 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Cyprus.

The major political concerns, respectively the Korean Peninsula issue and Cyprus problem have brought the two countries closer, based on the affinity out of same historical background of division and the common national vision for reunification, the ambassador said, adding that the two countries have also demonstrated solid cooperation in an international arena, sharing universal values of liberal democracy and human rights.

He said bilateral trade volume has increased by 25% for the past ten years from 1.2 billion dollars in 2009 to 1.5 billion dollars in 2018. The Korea Gas Corporation’s investment in the development of offshore natural resources in Cyprus is expected to open a new horizon for economic ties, the new ambassador said, while more Korean tourists find Cyprus as favourable travel destination.

Cyprus sends UN its EEZ coordinates over Turkey drilling - KATHIMERINI

06.MAY.2019 : 13:25

Cypriot authorities have submitted to the United Nations the coordinates delineating the boundaries of Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf in the wake of Turkey's decision to start drilling within Cyprus' EEZ.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said on Saturday that President Nicos Anastasiades will be convening the National Council to discuss the latest Turkish actions off Cyprus.

The coordinates would also be published in the government gazette, he said.

Christodoulides added that Nicosia is in contact with European Union member states concerning Turkey’s illegal actions and discussions are under way about preparing countermeasures.

Meanwhile Cypriot authorities have launched procedures to have an international arrest warrant issued for the crew of Turkey's Fatih drillship off Cyprus.

US calls on Turkey to cancel drilling plans - KATHIMERINI

MONDAY MAY 6, 2019, 07:25

The State Department is calling on Turkey to reverse its decision to begin drilling operations within Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

In a statement, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus calls the decision “highly provocative” that “risks raising tensions in the region.”

"The United States is deeply concerned by Turkey's announced intentions to begin offshore drilling operations in an area claimed by the Republic of Cyprus as its Exclusive Economic Zone," Ortagus said Sunday.

"This step is highly provocative and risks raising tensions in the region. We urge Turkish authorities to halt these operations and encourage all parties to act with restraint."

Foreign Minister says Cyprus monitoring Turkish vessel in cooperation with other states - CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

06/MAY/2019 13:16 CYPRUS/Nicosia 

Athena Arsalidou

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday that the Republic of Cyprus is monitoring the moves of Turkish vessel “Fatih” (Conqueror) in cooperation with other states, and announced that President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades will be convening the National Council on Saturday.

Christodoulides also said that he informed the Council of Ministers that on May 4 the geographical coordinates of the exclusive economic zone and the shelf, on the basis of the mean line between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, were submitted to the UN Secretary General.

He added that on Monday a meeting will be taking place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a follow up of the meetings in the presence of the Attorney General, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Justice and Public Order, and the Deputy Minister for Shipping.