Avner To Merge Into Delek Drilling - JEWISH BUSINESS NEWS

Yitzhak Tshuva

Sun, Aug 7th, 2016

The merger will be part of the Delek Group's structural change

Delek Group, gas exploration subsidiaries, controlled by Yitzhak Tshuva, Avner Oil and Gas and Delek Drilling, this morning notified the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) that an independent committee has recommended a merger between the partnerships, with Avner merged into Delek Drilling.

The two subsidiaries control Tamar and Leviathan gas fields in offshore Israel, as well as the Aphrodite gas field in Cyprus.

The partnerships reported in April, that they were examining a possible structural change in the group, since they are considered “parallel” units, holding energy assets for Delek Group.

Cyprus to take its pick for Block 10 in EEZ - CYPRUS MAIL

AUGUST 7TH, 2016
By Abboud Zahr

The results of the recently closed third offshore licensing round are very promising, particularly in view that global oil prices are low and oil companies are slashing their exploration budgets. Reputable international companies have submitted bids for all three blocks on offer (6, 8 and 10). Eight energy companies filed six bids for the three offshore blocks as follows:

Block 6: ENI/Total.
Block 8: ENI, Cairn/Delek.
Block 10: ENI/Total, ExxonMobil/Qatar Petroleum (QP), Statoil.

Among the six bidders, four feature in the top ten oil majors in the world in terms of reserves;

Medserv renews major contract - TIMES OF MALTA

Sunday, August 7, 2016, 00:01

Medserv has successfully concluded the renewal of one of its major contracts with an international oil company operating offshore North Africa for another two years.

Medserv will provide fully integrated logistics and shore base services from its base in Malta. The project relates to the continuation of the Bahr Essalm offshore gas field development in the central Mediterranean. This major natural gas field project includes the installation of subsea structures, engineering, as well as extensive diving and implementation campaigns. A range of vessels will be involved, including pipe laying and diving support vessels.

The Israel-Egypt partnership deepens - THE HILL

August 05, 2016, 02:26 pm
By Oren Kessler, contributor

Egypt last week marked Revolution Day, the day commemorating the 1952 Free Officers' revolt that toppled the playboy King Farouk. Next door in Israel, the Egyptian embassy threw a party.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife attended, as did its president. Flags of both nations flew; anthems of both were sung. Balloons in the Egyptian colors were strewn over the embassy pool, and a woman dressed like Cleopatra delivered remarks. It was the first time in six years that Egypt's embassy in Tel Aviv publicly marked the event.

It was an extraordinary gesture, and these are extraordinary times in the relationship between two of Washington's keystone allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. Two weeks prior, Sameh Shoukry became the first Egyptian foreign minister in nine years to visit Israel — breaking years of unwritten government protocol that ties with the Jewish state would be handled by the intelligence services.

Noble says its Israeli gas output rose 28% in quarter - HAARETZ / THE MARKER

TheMarker Aug 04, 2016 1:25 AM

Noble Energy said yesterday that it pumped 28% more natural gas in Israel in the second quarter, a record average of 276 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day. Israel Electric Corporation is increasingly substituting natural gas for coal and signing up industrial customers. Even though sales volumes globally for the Texas-based company climbed 43% year on year to 427,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, Noble reported an adjusted net loss of $103 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, turning around a $101 million, or 26-cent-a share, profit over the same period in 2015. The company raised its full-year sales volume guidance to approximately 415 million barrels per day and maintained its capital budget of less than $1.5 billion for the year. Noble’s loss was narrower than analysts‘ forecasts of 29 cents, but the share was nevertheless down 2.6% to $33.56 in New York midday local time. (Eran Azran)

Israeli Arab Expat Buys Rights in Two Energy Projects From Globe - HAARETZ / THE MARKER

TheMarker Aug 04, 2016 1:25 AM

Saed Sarsur, an Israeli Arab residing in London, has come to the rescue of energy group Globe Exploration. The company said Wednesday that Sarsur’s closely held SOA Energy Israel bought 70% of the rights in the Yahel and Ofek licenses in order to resume drilling. Sarsur isn’t known in the Israeli capital markets, but sources close to him called him an Israeli “patriot” and said SOA stands for “Son of Abraham.” Ofek was unable to complete the tests needs to confirm oil reserves because the partners didn’t have the cash to pay for them, but preliminary estimates said it could hold 2.17 trillion cubic feet of gas and 181 million barrels of oil. Globe, which will continue holding a minority stake in the two licenses along with publicly traded Capital Point, faces a government deadline to compete drilling or lose their rights. Shares of Globe Exploration closed up 18.6% at 4.38 shekels ($1.15). (Eran Azran)

Petroleum Ministry to rerun [Idku] and Damietta liquefaction factories by 2020/2021: minister - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Wednesday August 3, 2016

The ministry agreed with Shell to adjust the 9B gas prices and export 125m cubic feet daily
Mohamed Adel

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources aims to rerun [Idku] and Damietta factories for liquefaction in their full capacity in order to export gas shipments to global markets by 2020/2021.

Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla told Daily News Egypt that the ministry is currently looking to speed up the rerunning of the liquefaction factories with foreign partners, including the Spanish company Union Fenosa Gas and the Dutch company Shell, as well as the obtainment of gas from [Cyprus] for both factories.

He noted that the ministry is having ongoing discussions with partners in the liquefaction factories in order to eliminate the crisis, waive the arbitration case, and rerun factories that will provide the state with US dollar revenues.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release on yesterday’s statements by the Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry - REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

03/08/2016 15:31

Yesterday's statements by the Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, concerning the third licensing round and Block 6 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone constitute a repetition of the familiar, unacceptable and legally unfounded position of Turkey and an expression of provocative and destabilizing attitude.

The Republic of Cyprus, member of the United Nations and the European Union, fully exercises, as any other member state of the international community, all its sovereign rights under international law, including its sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf, as those rights are provided for by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Republic of Cyprus is determined to protect these sovereign rights by using all means provided by international law. If Turkey disputes these rights it can peacefully make use of the available international dispute-settlement mechanisms.

Egypt studies 8 state-owned oil companies for IPO or share - HYDROCARBON PROCESSING / REUTERS

3 August 2016

(Reuters) Egypt's Ministry of Investment will assess eight state-owned petroleum companies for their suitability for a possible listing on the Egyptian Stock Exchange or share issuances, Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla told Reuters on Tuesday.

The Egyptian presidency announced in January that Egypt would soon offer shares of "successful" state-owned companies and banks on the local bourse - its first public offering of government-owned firms since 2005, when it offered shares in Telecom Egypt, AMOC, and Sidi Kerir.

"We sent the names of eight petroleum companies to the Ministry of Investment last week to be studied, paving the way to issuing some of their shares on the bourse or increasing their capital," El Molla said in a phone interview with Reuters.

Four companies expressed interest in exploration blocks tendered by EGPC - ENERGY EGYPT / ENTERPRISE PRESS

August 3, 2016

Four companies have expressed interest in the 11 E&P projects in the Gulf of Suez and the Western Desert tendered by EGPC earlier this year, including US firms Apache Crop, Eos Petro, Greece’s Aegean Oil, and a Chilean company, sources at EGPC told Al Mal.

The authority has not received bids from any of the companies, the source added, despite the tender being issued two months ago, with a deadline at the end of August. Meanwhile, Eos Petro regional manager Yousry Hassan and Petrosilah Chairman Taher Abdel Rehim both said their companies wait until the last minute to submit bids in fear of the details being leaked.

Turkey warns companies not to explore in Cyprus' block 6 - SIGMA LIVE

02.08.2016

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has warned energy companies signing agreements for exploration and drilling in Cyprus’ block 6, saying that they will not allow exploration in “their exclusive economic zone.”

In statements made to Milliyet newspaper, the Ministry’s spokesperson Tanju Bilgic said: “The unauthorised hydrocarbon exploration and extraction activities by foreign companies in our maritime jurisdiction is not possible.”

He added that the location of block 6 is an important part of Turkey’s continental shelf, as was stated in a statement in March.

GASCO to hire domestic companies for transporting natural gas from Raven field to Western Desert Gas Complex - ENERGY EGYPT / ENTERPRISE PRESS

August 2, 2016

The Egyptian Natural Gas Company (GASCO) could potentially hire domestic energy companies such as Enppi and Petrojet to provide technical support as well as engineering and design services to transport gas from the Raven field in the North Alexandria Concession to the Western Desert Gas Complex, an unnamed source told Al Mal.

Natural gas would be transported from the BP-operated field at a rate ranging between 400 and 450 mcf/d, with the project expected to be completed between two and three years. Last week, it was reported that GASCO is also studying investing USD 500 mn in the second phase of the project to increase the production of the ethane-propane mix from the complex.

Hydrocarbon Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean - ATLANTIC COUNCIL

AUGUST 1, 2016

BY CHARLES ELLINAS, WITH JOHN ROBERTS AND HARRY TZIMITRAS

“The Eastern Mediterranean’s hydrocarbon discoveries have massive consequences for the region, even though when considered on a global scale they are relatively small,” writes David Koranyi in the foreword to the Atlantic Council report,Hydrocarbon Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. This report offers an important examination of the technical and geopolitical obstacles to and opportunities for creating a vibrant hydrocarbon market in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Read the Publication (PDF)

The lead author, Charles Ellinas, who is joined by John Roberts and Harry Tzimitras in exploring the extraction, export, and refining capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean, makes the case that in this “era of plenty,” low oil prices are here to stay and this necessitates realistic approaches to natural gas exploration and extraction in the Eastern Mediterranean. Although the central theme of the report calls for a realism in expectations, Ellinas takes an optimistic perspective on the role of natural gas in the region.

Energy activity high at Limassol port - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

August 1, 2016

French technology giant Technip is applying for the necessary permits from the Cyprus Ports Authority for the installation at Limassol port of underwater gas pipelines assembling unit, daily Phileleleftheros reported on Monday.

At the same time, Saipem’s pipelayer Castoro Sei (Beaver Six) was fully ensconced at Limassol port on Sunday afternoon 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.

Ganope launches International Bid Round for oil and gas exploration in Western Desert and Gulf of Suez - ENERGY EGYPT

August 1, 2016

Egypt’s state-owned Ganoub El-Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) issued a new international tender for oil and gas drilling and exploration in 10 sectors in the southern areas of the Western Desert and Gulf of Suez.

Egyptian oil minister Tarek El-Molla stated Sunday that the bid includes five areas notably in West Gabal El Zeit, South East Ghara area, and South Sinai, in addition to another five areas in Egyptian Western Desert.

The minister added that this is the second bid that oil sector issue during 2016 to attract new global investments to Egypt for oil and gas drilling and explorations.

He noted that issuing bids and signing new contracts with global firms is the major factor in achieving Egypt’s strategy that aims at securing energy supplies sustainably to enhance economic and social development plans.

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.

Tsipras heads to Sofia for energy talks - KATHIMERINI

SATURDAY JULY 30, 2016

Continuing his government’s efforts to boost alliances within the Balkans, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is due in Sofia on Monday for talks with Bulgarian government officials that are expected to focus on improving cooperation in the energy sector.

Tsipras and his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov are to jointly chair a session of a bilateral council that is to examine the scope for cooperation in various sectors of the economy, including energy and transport.

The two countries have already participated in the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) gas pipeline and have agreed to create a liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupoli in northern Greece.

Eni, BP target production of 350m cubic feet of gas from South Baltim field - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Six wells will be linked from the new discovery to the national grid by the end of
2016/2017, says source

Mohamed Adel July 30, 2016

The Italian oil company Eni and British BP will target the production of 350m cubic feet per day of gas from the discovery in South Baltim (east of the Nile Delta) by the end of the current fiscal year. The production will be linked to the national grid during the second half of 2017.

A source in the oil sector told Daily News Egypt that the implementation of the first production tests of the well, which was drilled to determine the quantities of natural gas, has been completed to measure the quantities of gas to be produced.

Cyprus Finds Ample Interest In Offshore Licensing Round - FORBES

The new names in Cyprus' 3rd Licensing Round Negotiations

JUL 29, 2016 @ 02:07 PM
Christopher Coats

After moving to open up three offshore blocks for natural gas exploration, Cyprus has reported receiving interest from a number of international firms for areas near the recent discovery of a reported “super giant”.

According to media reports, Nicosia found interest in the effort from ENI, Total, Statoil, Exxon Mobil, Qatar Petroleum, and Cairn for an area not far from where Italy’s Eni discovered a field that could hold up to an estimated 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Earlier reports suggested that the find could end up as the Mediterranean’s largest discovery to date. The discovery also led to a boost of confidence on the part of regional energy actors like Cyprus, spurring interest from a number of firms.

Russia says in talks with Turkey on two lines of TurkStream gas pipeline - REUTERS

Fri Jul 29, 2016 4:52am EDT

Moscow and Ankara have been discussing the construction of two lines of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in a TV interview aired on Friday.

Capacity of one line is around 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

"Turkey will play a large role as a transit country to provide European consumers with gas," Novak told Russia's state Rossiya-24 TV channel.

Cyprus and Jordan FMs urge patience in trilateral cooperation with Greece - CYPRUS MAIL

JULY 29TH, 2016

The foreign ministers of Cyprus and Jordan on Friday expressed their preference for a results-oriented approach when it comes to the trilateral cooperation scheme with Greece, urging patience before the three countries reconvene again on a ministerial level.
Nasser Judeh, who is also the deputy prime minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is in Nicosia at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides, in order to address the annual Ambassadors` Conference. The two ministers had a tête-à-tête at the foreign ministry, followed by a working lunch.

Judeh said that the trilateral cooperation “is not about deadlines and meetings for the sake of meetings”. He stressed the potential in various areas of cooperation between the three countries, such as tourism, energy, water and regional security. “Let`s see results and let’s meet these results before meeting,” he said.

Be cautious, despite oil majors’ interest, warns expert - CYPRUS MAIL

We'll know in Q4-2016 the final picture of the Cypriot EEZ

JULY 28TH, 2016 ELIAS HAZOU

DESPITE the impressive participation in the third hydrocarbons licensing round in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the government should not rest on its laurels, an energy analyst has told the Cyprus Mail.

“We are still a long way off from any [exploratory] drilling in the acreage put up for auction, and besides, matters do not seem to be moving forward with regard to the Aphrodite prospect,” Charles Ellinas said.

The expert said the turnout in the third licensing round was particularly impressive, in terms of the calibre of the bidding companies. Three oil majors are involved – ExxonMobil, ENI and Total.

“Competition for block 10 is going to be intense. It will be interesting to see who lands that concession.”

Egypt's Badr El-Din ups oil production to 137,000 barrels/day - AMWAL AL GHAD / ZAWYA / REUTERS

Mahmoud Shaaban
28 July 2016

Badr El‐Din Petroleum Company (BAPETCo), a joint venture between the Egyptian Government and Shell, has recently boosted its oil production to around 137,000 barrels per day, its chairman announced Wednesday.

The production involves around 50,000 barrels of crude and condensates per day, chairman Emad Hamdy said.

Hamdy further added that BAPETCo's total natural gas production is estimated at 490 million cubic feet amid plans for increase in the coming period.

BAPETCo's wells are located in the Western Desert concession area, where Badr 3 is its flagship oil field.

Egypt Expands Efforts to Address Natural Gas Demand - FORBES

JUL 28, 2016 @ 08:33 PM
Christopher Coats, CONTRIBUTOR

In hopes of reviving its oil and gas production efforts, Egypt has signed exploration agreements with Cypriot and U.S. firms to assist with onshore projects.

According to media reports, Cairo signed deals with IPR and Cypriot subsidiary Mediterra to help the country reach new production goals, specifically focusing on three exploration wells in sectors 7 and 8 in southern Egypt.

The deals come as Egypt continues to push for a revival of its energy production sector, which largely collapsed following the fall of the Mubarak government in 2011. Since then, Egypt has struggled to meet its rising energy needs, resulting in mounting debt to foreign producers and efforts to curb usage and subsidies to consumers.

Applications submitted for the 3rd licensing round for hydrocarbon exploration - REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

27/07/2016 
13:06

Subsequent to today’s, July 27, official briefing of the President of the Republic and the members of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism announces that for the 3rd licensing round for offshore hydrocarbon exploration in Blocks 6, 8 and 10 in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus, the following applications were received by the application deadline, which was Friday, 22 July 2016:

Egypt produces 50m more cubic feet of natural gas - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Tuesday July 26, 2016 - Mohamed Adel 

Eni gas fields in the Nile Delta added 110m cubic feet per day, say sources

Egypt’s daily production of natural gas has increased to 4.05bn cubic feet during this week for the first time since the beginning of the year, compared to 4bn cubic feet of gas last week. It came after adding 110m cubic feet produced daily by Italian Eni’s gas fields in the Nile Delta.

A source in Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) said the company added about 70m cubic feet of gas to the daily production from Nooros field, located in Abu Madi concession, as well as 40m cubic feet per day from East Baltim 12 in Nile Delta.

Energy issues in Turkey's hands, Russia says - UPI

Photo by tcly/Shutterstock

Russia renewing oil and gas pipeline options in the wake of Turkish coup attempt.

By Daniel J. Graeber | July 26, 2016 at 8:59 AM 

MOSCOW, July 26 (UPI) -- Decisions related to natural gas transit infrastructure tied to Russian supplies are in the hands of the Turkish government, a Gazprom chairman said.

Russian and Turkish officials discussed prospects for the so-called Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline system. Alexander Medvedev, a deputy chairman at Russian energy company Gazprom, said it's up to the Turkish government to take the next steps on the pipeline.

Socar Hits Desfa Snag - NATURAL GAS EUROPE

July 26th, 2016, John Roberts

Azerbaijan's state energy company Socar is running into problems concerning its stake in Greece's natural gas grid operator, Desfa, with the Greek parliament expected to vote imminently for a crucial change concerning the value of Desfa.

As a result, Socar is expected to send a delegation of senior officials to hold talks in Athens this week. They will address two main problems. The first concerns the size of Socar's stake in Desfa. The second – which is both far more important and far more complex – concerns the methodology of accounting within Desfa.

The first point is relatively straightforward. When Socar won the tender to acquire a 66% stake in Desfa for €400mn in June 2013, purchasing a 35% stake from Hellenic Petroleum and a 31% stake from Greek government, it had strong EU backing, not least because the leading alternative bidder was a Russian company, Sintez. At the time, the EU was also worried that Gazprom would seek to purchase Desfa's parent company, Depa, the Greek natural gas supply company. In the event, however, nobody bid for Depa and only Socar bid for Desfa.

Six applicants for three Cyprus offshore blocks - OFFSHORE ENGINEER

By Elaine Maslin Monday, 25 July 2016 03:25

Cyprus has received six applications from eight companies for the three blocks it put up in its 3rd Licensing Round for offshore exploration.

The three blocks were Blocks 6, 8 and 10, in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea.

The names of the interested companies/consortia are due to be announced this Wednesday, 27 July, with exploration and production sharing contract awards due to be made within about six months.

Israel, Cyprus to boost regional cooperation - ISRAEL HAYOM

Monday July 25, 2016

PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades meet in Jerusalem • "Leaders underscored their shared interests in regional stability and expressed their agreement to continue countering extremism and terrorism," joint statement says.

News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met Sunday in Jerusalem. The two leaders discussed various regional issues, and agreed to increase Jerusalem and Nicosia's cooperation on shared regional concerns, such as the war on terror and energy interests.

EGAS awards contracts for 11 LNG shipments between June and August - ENERGY EGYPT / ENTERPRISE

July 25, 2016

Trafigura, Royal Dutch Shell, Rosneft, and PetroChina were awarded tenders to supply EGAS with a total of 11 LNG shipments between the months of June and August, sources told Al Borsa.

Trafigura is supplying five shipments, followed by Shell with three, Rosneft with two, and PetroChina with one. As previously reported, EGAS has issued a tender for a third FSRU to meet domestic demand as the three Siemens power plants come online soon.

Greek storage stuck in no-man's-land - NATURAL GAS EUROPE

Source: Energean Oil & Gas

July 25th, 2016, Kama Mustafayeva

Greece's environment and energy minister Panos Skourletis expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in turning a gas field into an underground natural gas storage (UGS) during a recent speech in parliament. He criticised the state privatization fund Taiped for “not having shown any interest in moving ahead all these years” with plans to convert a gas field in the Gulf of Kavala into an UGS, Energypress reports.

He said that UGS is “a highly significant issue throughout Europe and such facilities are greatly sought after,” but although ownership of the field was transferred to Taiped in 2011, nothing has been done since.

According to a source, establishing UGS was to have been part of the plan to enhance Greek energy security and foster a southeast European trading hub; other elements included the Trans Adriatic pipeline; Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria and its extension into Romania and boosting the import capacity of the LNG terminal in Revithoussa, near Athens.

Delek bids for Cypriot exploration licenses - GLOBES

24/07/2016, 10:18, Globes correspondent

Delek's units Avner and Delek Drilling have bid as part of the Capricorn Oil consortium.
Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG) gas and oil exploration units Avner Oil and Gas LP (TASE: AVNR.L) and Delek Drilling LP (TASE: DEDR.L) reported this morning that they have bid for the Cypriot government tender to buy rights in the country's economic waters. Winning such a bid would by synergistic to its operations in Israel's offshore gas fields. "Globes" was the first to report last week that Delek was about to make such a bid.

The bid by the Delek units was submitted as part of the Capricorn Oil consortium. Capricorn is the consortium's operator and is a unit of Cairn Energy, which is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the CNE ticker.

ENI and Total ‘join forces’ for Block 6 - IN BUSINESS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

July 23, 2016

Energy giants ENI and Total have reportedly defied threats from Turkey and joined forces to go after Block 6 in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to media reports on Saturday.

On Friday, six applications, from eight companies, for exploratory drilling rights in blocks six, eight and, ten in the island’s EEZ have been received from eight different companies.

The names of the interested companies and consortia will be announced on Wednesday, 27 July following their disclosure to a scheduled plenum of the cabinet and President Nicos Anastasiades.

Aphrodite in doubt as new acreage turns heads - INTERFAX

By Verity Ratcliffe 22 July 2016 12:23 GMT

The Aphrodite field is located in Block 12. Its development could be disrupted by new acreage on offer.

The development of Aphrodite, Cyprus’s biggest gas field to date, will continue to be stymied by the lack of a route to market for its gas and the hunt for much bigger discoveries, sources have told Interfax Natural Gas Daily.

Noble Energy, Delek Group and Shell (which merged with BG Group in February) are expected to submit offers on Friday in Cyprus’s third licensing round. Eni and Total, which also hold blocks in Cyprus’s offshore area, are also expected to submit bids.

The round has drawn interest from IOCs looking to secure acreage near Egypt’s massive Zohr discovery, which has been described as a game-changer for the East Mediterranean oil and gas industry.

Dolphin discovery to be returned to Israel - NATURAL GAS EUROPE

July 22nd, 2016, Ya'acov Zalel

The Israeli energy ministry has said it does not recognize the Dolphin natural gas reservoir as a discovery, which means that the rights return to the state. The commissioner's decision was revealed in a filing by Delek Drilling to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The partners in the license are Delek Group (45.3%) Noble Energy (39.7%) and Ratio (15%), as is the case also for the Leviathan Partnership.

Dolphin is a small gas discovery close to Leviathan. It was discovered in 2012 but since it holds only 2.8 bn m³ of gas there are no incentives to develop it. The energy ministry demanded from the Dolphin partners an irrevocable undertaking to develop Dolphin in conjunction with phase 1 of the development of Leviathan field which is expected to come online by the end of 2019. The partners however might have refused to commit themselves to that timetable.

Delek said July 21 that it is considering legal action in order to keep the field in its possession.

Media report: Socar deal for Greece natgas grid on shaky ground - NAFTEMPORIKI

Thursday, 21 July 2016 12:48
REUTERS/DAVID W CERNY

The leftist Greek government appears unwilling to withdraw draft legislation amending the framework for natural gas tariffs in the country, despite a warning by Azerbaijan's state-run Socar that possible changes will jeopardize a deal for Greece’s natgas grid.

According to a EurActiv report, which quoted an energy ministry official in Athens said this week, the Azerbaijan company worked out a deal with the previous Greek government in 2013 to buy a 66-percent stake in the country's natural gas grid operator DESFA for 400 million euros.

Anastasiades to meet Netanyahu on Sunday - CYPRUS MAIL

Anastasiades with Netanyahu

July 20th, 2016 - Elias Hazou

PRESIDENT Nicos Anastasiades will on Sunday pay an official visit to Israel, where he will be meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the government announced on Wednesday.

Accompanying the president will be foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides and energy and trade minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis. The president and his delegation return to Cyprus on the evening of Monday, July 25.

The top three issues on the agenda are bilateral relations (energy and security), the latest developments in the Cyprus peace talks, and regional issues.

Russia revisits oil pipeline to avoid Black Sea - UPI

Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline once planned as a way to avoid crowded Turkish waterways.
By Daniel J. Graeber | July 20, 2016 at 8:05 AM

Russian pipeline said there may be renewed interest in a project meant to bypass Turkish waterways. Photo by smereka/Shutterstock

MOSCOW, July 20 (UPI) -- Russia could revisit a land-based oil pipeline meant to get around Turkish waterways if the political situation worsens, a Russian executive said.

Nikolai Tokarev, the head of Russian pipeline company Transneft, said there was renewed interest in building the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

"Everyone is now interested in it, including Bulgarian partners," he was quoted by Russian news agency Tass as saying.

Delek, Noble to bid for new Cypriot licenses - GLOBES

20/07/2016, Hedy Cohen

The companies will be competing against Eni, BP, Shell and Total for Blocks 6, 8 and 10.
Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG) and Noble Energy are expected to bid for new natural gas exploration licenses in Cyprus, energy sector sources said today. Some of the licenses include geological features similar to those of the huge Zohr reservoir in Egypt and the Tamar and Leviathan reservoirs in Israel. Major international energy companies are also expected to bid. A few months ago, Delek Group and Noble Energy abandoned their exploration rights in Block 12, where the Aphrodite gas reservoir was discovered.

The Cypriot press today reported that the companies interested in Blocks 6, 8, and 10 the new blocks include Italian company Eni, which discovered two reservoirs last year in Egypt, one of which was the Zohr reservoir; French company Total; and BP and Royal Shell, which acquired British Gas. It was also reported that following the discovery of the Zohr reservoir, the current set of licenses is expected to attract the greatest interest to date.

UPDATE 1-Egypt's tender for a third FSRU draws interest from four firms - REUTERS

Wed Jul 20, 2016 6:21am EDT
CAIRO

Egypt's tender to lease a third floating and storage regasification unit (FSRU) has drawn interest from four international firms, an Egyptian official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Once a net energy exporter, Egypt began imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) last year and has leased two FSRUs already to help avert power shortages caused by falling energy production and rising consumption.

The firms that have expressed interest in the latest tender include Norway's Hoegh, U.S. firm Excelerate Energy and Singapore-based Norwegian gas shipping company BW Gas , the ministry official said, declining to name the fourth firm.

Hoegh delivered Egypt's first FSRU in April 2015 and BW Gas supplied the second in September.

Eni and BP find 700bn feet of gas in south Baltim reservoir - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Drilling the first well is completed at 4,000 metres depth, says source

19.7.2016, By Mohamed Adel

British Petroleum (BP) and Italy’s Eni has estimated the reserves in their concession area in south Baltim at 700bn cubic feet of extractable gas. The gas is in a separate reservoir than the nearby Noras field.

A senior source in the oil industry told Daily News Egypt that the drilling of the first well, Baltim SW 1, has been completed, noting that each well requires a drilling time of two and a half months.

The drilling of the Baltim SW 1 reached a depth of 4,000 metres, which included 25 metres of water.

Israel's Delek Group in talks to sell 87 MW power plant for $52 mln - REUTERS

Tue Jul 19, 2016 10:26am GMT

JERUSALEM, July 19 (Reuters) - Israeli conglomerate Delek Group said on Tuesday it is in advanced talks to sell an 87 megawatt power plant to a group of investors for about 200 million shekels ($52 million).

The plant is located in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, adjacent to a huge desalination plant in which Delek is also a partner.

In a statement to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Delek described the potential buyers only as a "group of institutional and private investors". ($1 = 3.8590 shekels) (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch)

State Department’s energy envoy sees Greece as potential gas entry point - KATHIMERINI

18.07.2016 : 19:45
VASSILIS NEDOS

Amos Hochstein, the US State Department’s special envoy on energy, has been a regular visitor to Athens in the past few years and in his most recent trip this month he met last week with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

With the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) deal already signed, the terminal station in Alexandroupoli in northern Greece in the final stretch and the Greece-Bulgaria interconnecting pipeline (IBG) under way, Hochstein tells Kathimerini that Greece could become the entrance point for natural gas coming from the US and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The American official believes that the South Stream pipeline is a political scheme that will only benefit Russia and calls for a stop to plans for the North Stream II pipeline, arguing that it will have a negative economic and political impact on counties like Ukraine and Slovakia.

Lebanon to issue offshore gas exploration permits - GLOBES

18/07/2016, 18:50, Hedy Cohen

The Lebanese press reports that Lebanon will open its waters for new oil and gas exploration permits. One of the permits Lebanon intends to issue is still being contested by Israel.
In March 2013, Lebanon initiated a preliminary vetting process for gas companies which want to operate in the country. 12 international operators have passed this stage as well as 34 more non-operator firms. While Lebanon intended to provide ten offshore permits, the state's regulatory and political instability has led to delays with their issuing.

A source with connections in Lebanon's Ministry of Energy and Water told "Globes" that the discovery of Egypt's gas fields last year, as well as the Israel-Turkey reconciliation agreement (expected to promote a gas deal between the states), has led the ministry to push forward for an early publication of the permits during the last two weeks.

Russia extends sympathy to potential energy partner Turkey - UPI

Vladimir Putin keeping close tabs on government stability in Turkey.
Photo courtesy of Russian Ministry of Defence

Energy company Gazprom had proposed a string of gas pipelines through Turkish territory.

By Daniel J. Graeber

MOSCOW, July 18 2016 (UPI) -- The Russian government views an attempt to undermine the government of its key energy trading partner Turkey as unacceptable, President Vladimir Putin said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed revenge late Sunday during mourning for the 290 people left dead after last week's failed coup attempt. At least 6,000 people, including more than a dozen of the country's top military generals, were arrested in connection with the putsch.

Putin said in a statement he was expecting to meet personally with the Turkish president to discuss bilateral affairs.

"He expressed words of sympathy to President Erdogan over the numerous deaths, both among civilians and law enforcement officers who stood against the plotters, and expressed his hope that constitutional order and stability will be restored in Turkey as soon as possible," a statement from the president's office read.