Cyprus must redirect its energy policy - CYPRUS MAIL

May 10, 2020

Charles Ellinas

The international oil and gas companies (IOCs) have finally confirmed postponement of planned drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ into 2021. It is understood that the energy minister is looking into extending Eni/Total’s contracts to facilitate this.

The press coverage that followed, stated that it is “important to note that the oil companies are not pulling out”, but “they have merely postponed their planned drilling in response to the many problems currently being faced.”

But is such a complacent view justified? Where is this going? Let’s look at the evolving facts.

ExxonMobil Makes Natural Gas Discovery Offshore Cyprus - EXXONMOBIL

Feb 28, 2019 - 07:15 a.m. EST

Irving Texas

• Glaucus-1 well encounters a gas-bearing reservoir of approximately 436 feet (133 meters)
• Well is located in offshore Block 10 southwest of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean
• Further evaluation of Block 10 potential continues

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExxonMobil today said it has made a natural gas discovery offshore Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean at the Glaucus-1 well.

The well, located in Block 10, encountered a gas-bearing reservoir of approximately 436 feet (133 meters). The well was safely drilled to 13,780 feet (4,200 meters) depth in 6,769 feet (2,063 meters) of water.

Based on preliminary interpretation of the well data, the discovery could represent an in-place natural gas resource of approximately 5 trillion to 8 trillion cubic feet (142 billion to 227 billion cubic meters). Further analysis in the coming months will be required to better determine the resource potential.

“These are encouraging results in a frontier exploration area,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. “The potential for this newly discovered resource to serve as an energy source for regional and global markets will be evaluated further.”

Glaucus-1 was the second of a two-well drilling program in Block 10. The first well, Delphyne-1, did not encounter commercial quantities of hydrocarbons.

Block 10 is 635,554 acres (2,572 square kilometers). ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) Limited is operator and holds 60 percent interest in the block. Qatar Petroleum International Upstream O.P.C. holds 40 percent interest.

ENERGY: ExxonMobil could announce Cyprus exploration results next week - FINANCIAL MIRROR

21 February, 2019

Eagerly awaited results from two test drills offshore Cyprus for hydrocarbons by US energy giant ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum are expected to be announced next week, according to reports.

It is believed that Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis could announce the end of the exploration drills next Monday with both the government and ExxonMobil declaring the results soon after, although President Nicos Anastasiades will be consulted first.

Earlier this month, local media speculated that ExxonMobil could announce a “sizeable find” in block 10 following exploration drills at wells Delphine-1 and Glafcos-1 in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

A high-level Cypriot source, who reportedly spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the reserve isn't as large as the Zohr gas field in the Egyptian sector of the Mediterranean but “has a similar reserve.”

The reserve – found at Glafcos-1 - was said to hold at least 2.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – the minimum amount required to make it commercially viable.

Energy minister quashes rumours of gas find in block 10 - CYPRUS MAIL

February 14, 2019 

Elias Hazou

Exploratory drilling for gas by ExxonMobil in offshore block 10 is ongoing, and announcements will be made once the operations have been concluded, the government said on Thursday.

The energy ministry was addressing a number of media reports over the past few days claiming the US oil giant has struck it big at the Glafcos-1 drill site.

In a brief statement, the ministry reiterated that drilling is still going on and that therefore the results are not known.

An official announcement would be made once the operations were over, it added.

Local media outlets were reporting that ExxonMobil had found a sizeable, though not massive, reserve at their second drilling target in block 10.

The reserve was said to hold at least 2.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – the minimum amount required to make it commercially viable.

The reports claimed to be citing “industry sources.”

ExxonMobil’s drilling in context - CYPRUS MAIL

FEBRUARY 10, 2019

As ExxonMobil approaches the end its drilling campaign, rumours about the results abounded this week as have the extravagance of some of the claims. So let’s put what we know in context. What I present below is based on information, seismic data, satellite data, even hearsay, but we all need to be mindful that so far ExxonMobil has not made any announcements.

Results so far

It appears that Delphine has not struck commercial quantities of gas, but it is likely to have encountered gas presence. Even though disappointing, given expectations, this does not mean that there is no gas in the reservoir. This can only be ascertained by evaluating the results from Delphine and potentially carrying out further drilling in the vicinity of this target. Seismic and satellite data show a strong potential for a substantial gas reservoir at this location. We need to wait and see what ExxonMobil announces.

Exxon reportedly discovers oil in Cyprus Block 10 - KATHIMERINI / KNEWS

07 FEBRUARY 2019 - 10:15

Apostolis Tomaras

A sufficiently large and commercially viable oil reservoir has been reportedly discovered in Cyprus's Block 10 Glaucus target, according to Kathimerini sources.

Official results from Exxonmobil are not expected until the end of next week. The information comes from sources with knowledge of the matter.

The news of the discovery comes following uncertain indications regarding natural gas deposits in an earlier exploratory drilling at Delphini target, also in Block 10.

A sufficiently large and commercially viable oil reservoir has been discovered in Cyprus's Block 10

According to 'technocratic sources', Kathimerini has learned that the geological formations of the Glaucus target are limestone sedimentary rocks. To confirm that oil has been found, it would mean, according to the same sources, that the Exxonmobil drill has reached about 6 km deep.

Cabinet approves bill for Egypt pipeline deal - CYPRUS MAIL

January 31, 2019
Elias Hazou

The cabinet on Thursday approved a bill governing an inter-state agreement with Egypt for the construction of a subsea natural gas pipeline crossing through the exclusive economic zones of the two nations.

The legislation follows through from, and sanctions, the inter-state pipeline agreement signed between Cyprus and Egypt in September 2018.

Energy minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis was authorised to submit the bill to parliament.

The development came amid media reports on Thursday evening claiming that ExxonMobil has located gas at its second drill site, dubbed ‘Glafcos’, in Block 10.

The report carried by Sigma could not be confirmed. The outlet said announcements of a find could be made in about 10 days’ time.


ExxonMobil declined to comment.

Delphyne-1 Target Results in Block 10 of Cyprus Very Encouraging Sigmalive TV reports - SIGMA LIVE / TEKMOR MONITOR

10 January 2019 22:44

Cyprus' Sigmalive TV while covering Manfred Weber's, European People’s Party's (EPP) candidate for EU Commission's President, visit in Cyprus reported on a conversation between an unnamed high level Cypriot official and Wess Mitchell, US Assistant Secretary of State. Presumably ExxonMobil is extremely happy with the results from the drilling at the Delphyne-1 Target in Block 10. The Stena Icemax drill which has relocated to the Glaucus-1 Target will return in about a month to carry out additional drillings at Delphyne-1 in order to confirm the find's size and announce results. 

First drilling in Block 10 completed - KNEWS / KATHIMERINI

The British drillship Stena IceMax at new target in Block 10 

09 JANUARY 2019 - 13:30
Apostolis Tomaras

Results to be announced after new exploratory drilling on target Glaucus-1

As expected, ExxonMobil's first exploratory drilling in Block 10 has been completed.

According to an official announcement from the Ministry of Energy, exploratory drilling on target Delphyne-1 by ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) Limited and Qatar Petroleum International Upstream O.P.C. has been completed.

The Ministry of Energy has announced that the British drilling rig Stena Icemax has already been relocated and work has started on the second target in Block 10 named Glaucus-1.

Kathimerini reports that Stena Icemax will continue its work on the new prospect until next month.

Omitted from the official announcement are the results of the drilling in Delphyne-1, which the Ministry of Energy and ExxoMobil decided to publish only after the completion of the new drilling in Glaucus-1.

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.

Exxon expected to start drilling by week’s end - CYPRUS MAIL

TEKMOR Note: Welcome, USA!

November 14, 2018

Evie Andreou

The Stena Icemax drillship leased by ExxonMobil, is expected to begin drilling in Cyprus’ offshore block 10 by the end of the week, it was reported on Wednesday.

The drillship arrived on location in block 10 on Sunday and is preparing to begin drilling in the site dubbed by Exxon as ‘Delphine’ after the Greek mythology dolphin-shaped sea daemon that was in the service of god Poseidon.

Cyprus News Agency (CNA), said, citing sources, that at the moment the exact time of when the drilling will start cannot be determined due to technical and environmental factors.

The same is true for the duration of the drilling, which is expected to last around two months. Progress, sources told CNA, will depend on the speed of winds, pressure as well as hard rock that can be found during drilling.

The drilling rig will descend about two kilometres to the bottom and about two to three km further.

US Drlling with a British Drill in Cyprus - PHILELEFTHEROS

2 July 2018

TEKMOR: Cypriot newspaper Phileleftheros reports that drilling in Cyprus' Block 10 by ExxonMobil will start mid-November & finish in March 2019 using a super modern UK-flagged drilling platform, owned by a London-HQ British company with a presence in Cyprus as well. In the mean time Maltese MedServ has reported an agreement for the provision of onshore logistics with a multinational that will be conducting exploration activities in Cyprus' EEZ.