Libya's Natural Gas Production Drops by 8%: Audit Bureau Report - CHEMANALYST

26-Dec-2023 2:17 PM

Patricia Jose Perez

Libya, a country prominently known for its abundant natural gas reserves, has unfortunately experienced an 8 percent decrease in its natural gas production. This alarming statistic was revealed by the Audit Bureau of Libya in a recent report. The report traces this decline back to the gradual depletion of the existing wells and a concerning lack of new discoveries.

In the year 2022, the total gross gas output of Libya was calculated at 861.96 billion cubic feet (24.40 billion cubic meters), which fell significantly short of the targeted 941.7 billion cubic feet (26.6 billion cubic meters). However, the actual net production is considerably lower due to several contributing factors. These include wasteful combustion of spontaneously released gas during extraction, deficiencies in infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and ongoing political divisions. These factors collectively result in the estimated net production being a mere 12-15 billion cubic meters of gas.

Interestingly, the report also highlights that while Libya theoretically has the capacity to export up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Italy annually through the Greenstream gas pipeline, in 2022, the total quantity exported did not exceed 2.48 billion cubic meters. This figure equates to just 10 percent of the total gross production, leaving a vast quantity of potential exports unrealized.

Saipem Wins Egypt Plant Contract - RIGZONE

Monday, April 20, 2020

Matthew V. Veazey

Egyptian Ethylene & Derivatives Co. (Ethydco) has selected a consortium of Saipem and Egypt-based Petrojet to build that country’s first polybutadiene plant, Saipem reported Friday.

According to a written statement Saipem emailed to Rigzone, the estimated US$150 million contract for the 36,000-metric ton per year (MT/Y) synthetic rubber plant calls on Saipem and Petrojet to provide:

Egyptian petroleum minister fleshes out country’s progress as regional hub - THE ARAB WEEKLY

Sunday 24/02/2019

Mohamed Hammad

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla said Cairo would soon announce its first international bid for oil and gas exploration in the country’s Red Sea territory, as a step towards Egypt increasing its position among natural gas suppliers in the region.

Molla said the ministry carried out two seismic surveys in the Red Sea and southern Egypt that indicated “positive signs that encouraged us to submit tenders to international companies for the extraction of oil and gas in that virgin region.”

“This procedure would not have been possible without the delimitation of the maritime border with Saudi Arabia in April 2016. [The agreement] enabled Egypt to search and explore in this region for the first time,” Molla said.

The surveys were carried out by US companies TGS and Schlumberger at a cost of about $750 million.

Tenders for oil and gas exploration in the Red Sea were to have been announced last December but Molla said Egyptian officials decided to wait to better market the promising potential in the region.

Letter of intent for the award of new E&C offshore word order for the ramp up to plateau phase of the Zohr field development project, worth more than 1.2 billion USD - SAIPEM

20 December 2018

San Donato Milanese (Milan), December 20, 2018 - Saipem and Petrobel have negotiated an offshore contract addendum worth more than 1.2 billion USD for Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) activities in relation to the “Ramp Up to Plateau” phase of the “supergiant” Zohr Field Development Project situated in the Mediterranean Sea off the Egyptian coast.

Petrobel is a 50-50 joint venture between EGPC (Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation) and IEOC (an Eni subsidiary in Egypt) and is in charge of the development of Zohr on behalf of PetroShorouk, a joint venture between EGAS (Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company) and IEOC, Rosneft, BP and Mubadala Petroleum.

The current addendum to the work includes the installation of a second 30-inch diameter gas export pipeline, infield clad lines, umbilicals and electrical/fiber optic cable, as well as EPCI work for the field development in deep water (up to 1700 metres) of 10 wells.

The Ramp Up to Plateau phase is scheduled to commence in January 2019, in direct continuity with the Optimised Ramp Up phase which has been completed in an outstanding 17-month project execution period from its contract award.

Bulgaria-Greece Gas Pipeline Project Receives Initial Bids - NOVINITE / REUTERS

September 13, 2018, Thursday // 09:53

Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Edmund Blair

Italy’s Saipem, a consortium including Azeri state firm SOCAR and nine other groups or firms have submitted initial bids to build a gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Greece, the company overseeing delivery of the project said.

ICGB launched a tender in April for design, procurement and construction of the 182-km (113-mile) pipeline that is estimated to cost 145 million euros (8 million). The contract winner will have 18 months to complete the project.

Other firms which have filed initial bids also include Italy’s Sicim, Greek company J&P Avax, Turkey’s Fernas, a group including Sicilsaldo, Nuova Ghizzoni and Inrakat, and a consortium of Germany’s Max Streicher and Greece’s Terna.

ICGB will draw up a shortlist of final bidders.

Sofia plans to use the pipeline to receive one billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per year from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz 2 gas field after 2020, ending its almost complete reliance on Russian gas supplies.

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.”

Drilling ship arrives off Cyprus for ENI - KATHIMERINI

27.12.2017 13:28

Drilling ship Saipem 12000 entered the Cypriot exclusive economic zone on Tuesday evening to start operating in the next few days for Italy’s ENI.

The vessel will anchor at the “Kalypso” field of the zone’s Block 6, to begin exploratory drilling for hydrocarbons in the next few days.

The drilling process is expected to last for about a month, followed by another drilling for ENI at the “Soupia” (i.e. Cuttlefish) field of Block 3.

ENI chief executive officer Claudio Descalzi stated last month that his company is very optimistic about the area’s natural gas prospects, which is why it has invested 150 million euros in it.

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.

Saipem EPCI contract variations finalised for Zohr field development - WORLD PIPELINES

Monday, 31 July 2017 09:40
Stephanie Roker

Saipem and Petrobel have finalised offshore contract variations worth US$900 million for engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) activities in relation to the ‘Optimised Ramp Up’ phase of the ‘supergiant’ Zohr field development project situated in the Mediterranean Sea off the Egyptian coast.

Petrobel is a joint venture between IEOC (an Eni subsidiary in Egypt) and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and is in charge of the development of Zohr on behalf of PetroShorouk, a joint venture between Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and IEOC.

The current variations to the scope of work include the installation of a 30 in. dia. gas export pipeline and an 8 in. dia. service pipeline, as well as EPCI work for the field development in deep water (up to 1700 m) of four wells and the installation of umbilicals. Works will commence in July 2017 and are due to be completed by the end of 2018.

In order to meet the requirements set by the client, Saipem will deploy several vessels from its highly specialised fleet, including the Castorone (the latest generation ultra-deepwater pipelayer); the subsea field development ship Saipem FDS2; the Saipem 3000 (a subsea construction vessel) and, finally, the Castoro 6 and the trenching barge Castoro 10.

SAIPEM awarded offshore contract variations worth 900 million USD for the optimised ramp up phase of the Zohr field development project - SAIPEM

July 27, 2017, San Donato Milanese (Milan)

Saipem and Petrobel have finalized offshore contract variations worth 900 million USD for Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) activities in relation to the “Optimised Ramp Up” phase of the “supergiant” Zohr Field Development Project situated in the Mediterranean Sea off the Egyptian coast.

Petrobel is a joint venture between IEOC (an Eni subsidiary in Egypt) and EGPC (Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation) and is in charge of the development of Zohr on behalf of PetroShorouk, a joint venture between EGAS (Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company) and IEOC.

EGL & KADMAR make its mark on Zohr, the biggest Mediterranean gas discovery - ENERGY EGYPT

June 21, 2017

Egyptian Global Logistics EGL subsidiary of KADMAR Group succeeded in handling the kick off for Egypt Mega Gas Project using the fleet of extendable trailers handling joint of 28 meters length & weighting 40 tons for Saipem project Zohr; the biggest gas discovery in Egyptian waters in the Mediterranean.

EGL completed the port handling from gearless vessel at Alexandria Port in Egypt followed by trucking to storage area and reload to the Saipem base at Abu Qir Port for shipping to the Zohr offshore located 120 miles North East Port Said.

Saipem Hires UTEC AUV Services for Its Zohr Project - SUBSEA WORLD NEWS

June 8, 2017

UTEC has been awarded a contract with Saipem to support its operations as part of the Zohr field development project.

The survey company in subsea services group Acteon will bring its experience in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to the project, which is expected to be one of the biggest gas field discoveries in the Mediterranean Sea, with an estimated 850 billion cubic metres of gas in place.

UTEC will work with Saipem in performing surface positioning on-board the Saipem operated barges, Bautino and Castoro 10, and associated anchor handling vehicles (AHVs), while also providing trenching support, including trench monitoring services and as-trenched surveys utilising UTEC’s Teledyne Gavia AUVs in water depths ranging from 2.5 meters to 20 meters. The contract is expected to last around five months.

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.

EGL transports SAIPEM cargo to Zohr - BREAK BULK

FEBRUARY 22, 2017

Heavy transport firm Egyptian Global Logistics has delivered outsized components for the Zohr gas project via the port of Alexandria on the West Verge of the Nile Delta.

The firm transported cargo weighing up to 40 tonnes and measuring up to 28 meters in length for EPC contractor Saipem’s operations in the Zohr gas field. The offshore gas field is located 120 miles north east of Port Said in Egypt.

The team from EGL handled logistics for the project, initially discharging from a gearless vessel at Alexandria Port before trucking to a storage area for reloading at the Saipem’s base at Abu Qir Port.

Subsea projects dominate regional investment - OFFSHORE SUPPORT JOURNAL

Pioneering Spirit will be laying gas pipelines across the Black Sea
from the second half of 2017

Fri 13 Jan 2017
Martyn Wingrove

Allseas will install 900km of pipeline for the TurkStream project in the Black Sea, while Subsea 7 and Saipem will deploy subsea systems in Egypt

With significant investment going into the Black Sea, the region will be a main focus area for subsea operations in 2017. So will the Eastern Mediterranean after partners in the Leviathan gas field offshore Israel approved a development plan for a huge production and export project.

Turkish Stream crosses choppy waters - NATURAL GAS WORLD

December 29th, 2016, 8:30am
John Roberts

In the second half of 2017, the world’s most modern pipe-laying barge will lay the first string of the Turkish Stream pipeline across the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey.

Despite all the vicissitudes of recent Russian-Turkish relations, including the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov December 19, the two nations remain committed to laying at least one 15.75bn m³/yr pipe between Russia’s offloading terminal near Anapa and a landing site at Kiyikoy, on the Black Sea coast of Turkish Thrace.

But there is still a lot that remains uncertain. These mainly concern the question of a second string – in effect another 15.75bn m³/yr pipeline running roughly parallel to the first; the question of a connection to the Turkish-Greek border; the issue of who would be served by a second string; and the possibility of foreign partnership in the offshore component of the new system.

Minister of Petroleum follows up on development of Zohr field - ENERGY EGYPT

December 18, 2016

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Eng. Tarek El Molla, met with the Higher Committee, comprised of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Petrobel, and Italy’s Eni, to follow up on the development of the Zohr field project. EGAS Chairman Eng. Mohamed Al-Masry, EGPC Chairman Eng. Tarek El Hadidy, Petrobel’s Chairman Eng. Atef Hassan, Petrojet’s Chairman Eng Mohamed Shemi, Enppi’s Chairman Eng. Mohamed Hathot, Eng. Adriano Mongini and Eng. Antonio Villa, representing Eni and IEOC, as well as representatives from Saipem were all present at the meeting.

Eng. Tarek El Molla said That Zohr field is a producing almost 900 million cubic feet of gas per day and will top 1 billion cubic feet per day in the end of 2017, and the development plan for the field to increase production will top 1 billion cubic feet per day in the end of 2019.

Subsea 7 wins Egyptian offshore contract - OFFSHORE SUPPORT JOURNAL

Thu 24 Nov 2016

Subsea 7 has won a substantial contract to install subsea systems and pipelines on the Atoll project offshore Egypt

Some of the predicted contract awards for offshore construction and support vessels in the Eastern Mediterranean are starting to materialise. There has been great expectation recently that large gas discoveries in the region will result in new contracts for subsea construction companies and supporting vessels. In November, one of the first of the expected contracts was awarded.

Subsea 7 gained a substantial order for offshore construction work in Egypt. It gained the contract from Pharaonic Petroleum Co, an affiliate of BP, for subsea engineering, procurement, construction and installation work on the Atoll project. Subsea 7 will be responsible for installing more than 40km of rigid pipelines and associated structures for the new Atoll field. The water depths for the installation work range from 100m to 900m. Subsea 7 will also be tying these pipelines into the existing Taurt field facilities, which are in water depths of 100m, and installing 105km of umbilicals to connect subsea wells on the Atoll field.

Shell cuts Borollos, Rasheed investments to $158.9m in operating expenses - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Daily decline rate 10m feet of gas at the company’s concession and there’s no production increase
Saturday October 8, 2016, Mohamed Adel 

Royal Dutch Shell reduced its investments for the current fiscal year (FY) in Borollos and Rasheed concessions to only $158.9m for maintenance and operating expenses.

A source within the petroleum sector told Daily News Egypt that the company allocated operating expenses valued at $96.7m to Borollos fields and $38m for periodical maintenance to the wells.

The source added that Shell allocated $22.7m for the operating expenses of Rosita field in Rasheed’s concession, and $1.4m for maintenance operations. There has been no increases in the performance of the natural gas production rates.

The source noted that Borollos and Rasheed fields’ production declines on a daily basis by 10m feet of gas.

Saipem’s pipelayer platform for Zohr work docks at Limassol, staying six months - CYPRUS MAIL

Photos by CNA

JULY 31ST, 2016

Saipem’s pipelayer Castoro Sei (Beaver Six) was fully ensconced at Limassol port on Sunday before starting work on underwater pipelines for Egypt’s giant Zohr gasfield.

The Zohr gas field was discovered by Eni in August 2015, using the drillship Saipem 10000, which is still operating in the area.

The ‘floating factory’ Castoro Sei will remain in Cyprus for six months and is expected to boost the local economy, according to Limassol harbour master Giorgos Pouros.