Gas cos lose appeal against Hanna license expiry - GLOBES

12 Jun, 2017 18:40
Nati Yefet

Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz severely criticized Noble Energy, Delek Group, and Ratio.

Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz has rejected the appeal by Noble Energy, Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG), and Ratio Oil Exploration (1992) LP (TASE:RATI.L) on the decision by Director of Natural Resources Administration & Petroleum Commissioner Yossi Wurzburger against extending the companies' oil and gas exploration license for the Hanna [block]. Wurzburger's decision came after the companies found only 2-3 BCM of natural gas in the Dolphin drilling, an amount insufficient to make the prospect commercially valuable.

Petrojet completes constructing deepwater facilities on Zohr ahead of schedule - ENTERPRISE / AL MASRY AL YOUM

Monday, 12 June 2017

Petrojet has completed the construction of deepwater facilities on the Zohr gas field one month ahead of schedule, Al Masry Al Youm reports. 

Petrojet had also announced earlier this month that it completed construction on offshore platform for the gas field four months before it was due.

Edison looking for a partner to drill at North East Hapi concession - ENTERPRISE / AL SHOROUK

Monday, 12 June 2017

Italy’s Edison is looking for a partner to begin drilling the first deepwater well at its North East Hapi concession. 

Drilling costs could surpass USD 100 mn, an unnamed EGAS source tells Al Shorouk. 

Edison had signed an USD 86 mn agreement with EGAS in January for E&P operations and drilling two new wells in the concession.

Aoun urges Cyprus cooperation in oil, gas fields - THE DAILY STAR

President Michel Aoun welcomes Cypriot counterpart Nicos
Anastasiades at Baabda Palace. 

Jun. 12, 2017 | 03:03 PM

BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun Monday lauded bilateral cooperation between Lebanon and Cyprus, calling for increased coordination in offshore oil and gas exploration.

"I encourage the governments of the two countries to raise the level of cooperation in the fields of oil and gas," Aoun said in a joint news conference with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades.

Lebanon and Israel are locked in a dispute over a maritime zone that is believed to contain large quantities of natural gas. Lebanon is demanding the demarcation of the area with the help of the U.N. and other concerned parties.

Technically and legally, the United Nations does not have the mandate to demarcate disputed borders between countries.

However, Lebanese officials insist that the U.N. has an interest in taking steps to avoid an open conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

Energy giants upbeat over Block 11 prospects - CYPRUS MAIL

Drilling will be conducted by the UDW drillship West Capella

June 11, 2017

Elias Hazou

With the countdown well underway to Total’s first well, a hydrocarbons expert has dubbed the outcome as “make or break” for the gas potential of Cyprus’ offshore carbonate formations next to Egypt’s super-giant Zohr reservoir, just a stone’s throw away to the south.

The first foray for gas in Block 11 is weeks away, as confirmed to the Sunday Mail by Yves Grosjean, country manager for Total E&P Cyprus.

“I can confirm that well preparation is on schedule for a start in mid July,” Grosjean said in an email.

“We are of course optimistic as we will be targeting the same carbonate formations as the Zohr discovery. But it remains an exploration well which means that we have no indication whether or not we will find gas.”

Israeli commandos head to Cyprus for largest land-based drill - JERUSALEM POST

JUNE 10, 2017 11:57
Anna Ahronheim

Israel and Cyprus have participated in several military drills over the past few months.

Israel has sent a large number of commandos to Cyprus for the largest land-based joint drill ever to take place between the two countries.

According to Cypriot media, the weeklong exercise will take place in the areas of the Troodos Mountains and focus on scenarios for occupying and liberating villages, as well as survival strategies A reported 400 Israeli commandos, as well as attack helicopters and fighter jets, will take part in the drill, in what is believed to be the first time such a large number of Israeli commandos will take part in a military exercise in Cyprus.

The planned drill is said to have unnerved Cyprus’s adversary, Turkey, which used to participate in annual joint navy and air force drills with Israel. After ties between Ankara and Jerusalem were downgraded following the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010, Israel turned to Greece and the Greek Cypriots for military exercises of air, sea, and ground forces.

Over 3000 people working on Greek segment of TAP pipeline - WORLD PIPELINES

Friday, 09 June 2017 10:25Stephanie Roker

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG announces that construction in Greece, the pipeline’s greatest geography, advances on time, on track and on budget. Thanks to the efforts of the over 3000 people working for the project, 13 months after the Inauguration Ceremony works have significantly progressed in two of the three northern Greek prefectures to be traversed by the pipeline: eastern Macedonia-Thrace and central Macedonia.

As of end May 2017, out of the approximately 550 km of pipeline in total to be built on Greek soil, TAP’s contractors have already:

ExxonMobil wants to see Cyprus a regional hub - CYPRUS MAIL / CNA

June 9, 2017

ExxonMobil’s vision for Cyprus is to see the country becoming a regional energy hub and the company hopes to find sufficient deposits of natural gas to see the island turn into an energy export nation, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company Stephen Greenlee said on Thursday.

The ExxonMobil president said the company had been active since signing the contracts with Cyprus in April and has begun exploration.

Things seem to be going well, he said, adding that success will lead to great things.

Hellenic Petroleum brings up sensitive issues - KATHIMERINI

09.JUNE.2017 11:06
CHRYSSA LIAGGOU

Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) is raising the resolution of issues related to the setting of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) with Greece’s neighbors and the lifting of bans on surveying beyond the 6-mile sea zone – which the Turkish Parliament has described as an act of “casus belli.” The settlement of these issues is an essential part of any planning for the utilization of the country’s hydrocarbons.

ELPE, which is set to form a consortium with oil giants ExxonMobil and Total, raised the aforementioned issues through its president, Stathis Tsotsoros, at an oil conference on Thursday organized by the union of ELPE employees.

Speaking about the national effort to utilize Greece’s hydrocarbons, Tsotsoros criticized the decades “of passive or low-priority handling of the matter by the Greek state and the competent authorities.” He then referred to the cause of the delays, saying that “there was no drafting of medium- or long-term road maps for the solution or settlement of the issues with neighboring countries in the context of international law.”

Turkey and the new Mediterranean gas pipe projects - DERIN EKONOMI MAGAZINE / YENI SAFAK

June 08, 2017 12:15  
Robert M. Cutler

In early April of 2017, the energy ministers of Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and Italy signed a Joint Declaration to reaffirm their support for the swift implementation of the EastMed/CrossMed natural gas pipeline project. European Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete attended the ministerial summit. (This "CrossMed" pipeline project should not be confused with the existing TransMed natural gas pipeline, which takes Algerian gas to the Italian mainland, via Tunisia and Sicily, and Slovenia via an extension.)

The EastMed natural gas pipeline project was originally conceived as a shorter pipeline from Cyprus to western Greece via Crete. The EU considers it as a Southern Gas Corridor project.

There is now an expanded project to extend it on both ends, eastward to Israeli offshore sources and westward under the Ionian Sea to Italy. This is this CrossMed pipeline, although sometimes "EastMed" is still confusingly used for it.

Egypt reduces arrears owed to foreign oil companies to $2.3 billion - REUTERS

Thu Jun 8, 2017 | 2:30pm ISTReporting by Ehab Farouk; Writing by Amina Ismail; Editing by Toby Chopra

Egypt has reduced arrears owed to foreign oil companies to $2.3 billion, the Egyptian oil ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The country repaid $2.2 billion in three weeks, the statement said.

Once an energy exporter, Egypt has turned into a net importer in recent years, squeezed by declining production and increasing consumption.

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.

Total, Eni, BP start exploration program in North El Hammad offshore Egypt - ENERGY EGYPT / AMWAL AL GHAD

June 8, 2017

Total, Eni’s Egyptian subsidiary IEOC, and BP have commenced a gas and oil exploration program in the North El Hammad block, located in the conventional offshore of the Mediterranean Sea. The program aims to explore more fields in the area in order to increase Egypt’s oil and natural gas domestic.

Natural gas and oil exploration programs implemented by international companies encourage foreign investments in the sector, stated the Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El Molla during his meeting with Total E&P Egypt’s Managing Director Jean-Pascal Clémençon and Elias Kassis Vice President of North Africa Region.

Egypt: BW Singapore FSRU moves to port in Sumed - LNG WORLD NEWS

FSRU BW Singapore

June 7, 2017

Singapore-based gas shipping giant BW said its FSRU BW Singapore has been relocated to the port in Sumed, Egypt to continue its contract with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS).

The FSRU so far served as Egypt’s second import terminal in the port of Ain Sokhna, starting full operation October 2015.

In a brief social media statement, BW’s LNG unit noted that the relocation of the FSRU, which was a business decision made by EGAS, demonstrates the flexibility to optimize operations for the charterer.

BW Singapore, serving EGAS under a five-year charter, has a storage capacity in excess of 170,000 cbm and a peak regasification capacity of 750 mmscfd.

MIDOR increase refining capacity by 109% y-o-y in 1Q2017 - ENTERPRISE

Wednesday, 7 June 2017

Middle East Oil Refinery (MIDOR) raised its refining capacity by 109% y-o-y in 1Q2017 to 3.9 mn bbl of refined crude, a source tells Al Shorouk. The increase is fueled by the USD 20 mn spent on the first phase of its expansion plan, which started in January. 

MIDOR targets bringing its refining capacity up by another 15% y-o-y in FY2017 to 39 mn bbl of refined crude. MIDOR produced 150,000 tonnes of butane and 1.7 mn tonnes of diesel last year, according to preliminary results.

Khalda to invest USD 800 mn in drilling in FY 2017-18 - ENTERPRISE / AL MAL / DAILY OIL NEWS

Tuesday, 6 June 2017

Apache JV Khalda Petroleum will invest USD 800 mn in drilling 53 development wells and 38 exploratory wells in FY 2017-18, Al Mal reports. 

Company production is expected to surpass 151,000 bbl/d of crude, condensates, and butane, and 800 mcf/d of gas. 

Khalda will also conduct 3D seismic surveys in West Kalabsha and Khalda-3 concessions.

Khalda makes eight new petroleum discoveries in FY2016/17

The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, visited Khalda Petroleum’s concessions in the Western Desert, accompanied by the Ministry’s First Undersecretary for Oil and Gas Affairs, First Undersecretary for Agreements and Exploration, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC)’s CEO and Vice Chairman, the Egyptian National Gas Holding Company (EGAS)’ CEO and Vice Chairman, and Apache’s CEO.

Egypt’s energy future between reality and fantasies - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

June 6, 2017 

Mohamed Samir

Egypt is the second largest producer of natural gas in Africa after Algeria, yet Egypt’s power generation infrastructure is dependent on natural gas. More than 75% of the electricity generated in Egypt comes from natural gas plants. Egypt currently produces about 3.9bn cubic feet of gas per day and imports another 1-1.1bn cubic feet per day with an estimated cost of $300mn per month, in order to meet the growing needs of the electricity sector.

The country does have multiple areas of undeveloped reserves, which had not been able to afford their development, as the Egyptian government had not offered high enough prices to foreign firms capable of developing the reserves. That changed lately with the new Mediterranean discoveries.

Egyptian consumption of natural gas has been increasing by approximately 7% per year over the past decade. The increasing level of consumption combined with the decreasing level of production meant that Egypt was only able to export 5% of its total natural gas production in 2013.

Aquaterra Sea Swift platform installed and operating in Egypt - WORLD OIL

JUNE/5/2017

ABERDEEN -- Aquaterra Energy, a leading global offshore engineering solutions provider, has designed, fabricated and installed a new Sea Swift platform for PICO Petroleum Integrated Services, the lead contractor for Amal Petroleum Company’s (AMAPETCO) Amal field in the Gulf of Suez, offshore Egypt. This will open new opportunities for future cooperation between the two entities in large projects both in Egypt and the Middle East.

The Sea Swift is a Conductor Supported Platform (CSP) and is installed in 23-m water depth. It included a 385 tonne topside featuring a helideck and emergency accommodation with provision for six wells. The new topsides facility for the Amal-C platform involved designing process, piping, electrical, instrumentation, control system and technical safety scopes of work, the project also included the design of the new subsea production pipelines to the Amal-A platform. The project, which took 18 months from design to installation, involved building a bridge link to the neighbouring Amal-B platform and reconfiguring the topside pipework to create a new and improved production profile.

Aquatic's dual tensioner a key part of the installation for the Pharaonic/PHPC Atoll project - AQUATIC SUBSEA

5 June 2017

Aquatic has been selected to provide tensioning capabilities to DeepOcean BV on behalf of Subsea 7 for the Pharaonic /PHPC Atoll Main umbilical installation project in Egypt. Aquatic will provide its Dual Tensioner System solution to tension the umbilical during installation.

Martin Charles, managing director, Aquatic, says “We are proud to be associated with this important project. Since its design and implementation, this dual tensioner configuration has operated successfully on numerous projects globally. Our team will work closely with our clients to customize our equipment on deck and adapt the dual tensioner solution to the project’s requirements.”

The 112km umbilical will be installed at a water depth of 923m, extending to a beach tie-in at the West Harbour Terminal, near Port Said, Egypt. Mobilization is scheduled for August 2017 from Blyth Northumberland, with an anticipated project duration of 70 days.

IPR continues exploration program in Egypt - OIL & GAS JOURNAL

HOUSTON, June 5 2017
By OGJ editors

Irving, Tex., independent IPR Inc. reported continued drilling success and a series of Western Desert and Nile Delta, Egypt, discoveries through this year’s first 5 months.

IPR’s calendar year drilling program in Egypt budgeted for the drilling of 23 wells, making 2017 one of the most active years operationally for IPR since its 1993 acquisition of the Phillips Petroleum Western Desert assets.

The work program includes onshore exploration, appraisal, and development drilling, and workovers offshore in the Gulf of Suez.

Israel working hard to realize the dreams of its gas industry - CNBC

Israel's annual natural gas demand forecast (in BCM)

5 June 2017

Ferry Biedermann; special to CNBC.com

Israel's energy sector is going through momentous changes due the development of its large offshore natural gas reserve.

Last week, Greek oil and gas company Energean introduced a new element of competition into the country's domestic gas market by signing contracts for its two Israeli fields, and earlier this year the country started exporting gas to neighboring Jordan, albeit in initially small quantities.

There are high hopes that Israel's substantial proven reserves, as well as the likelihood of future finds, will change not only the economy but also the geopolitical situation in the region, with Israel potentially becoming an exporter also to Egypt, Turkey and even to Europe. Yet, a combination of that same geopolitical situation, low natural gas prices, the lack of an export infrastructure and regulatory issues may temper such dreams, say experts.

Egypt sets $8bln for fuel subsidies in FY 2017-18 budget - ZAWYA / REUTERS

05 JUNE, 2017

Reporting by Eric Knecht; Editing by Ahmed Aboulenein/Mark Heinrich

CAIRO, June 5 (Reuters) - Egypt has allocated 145 billion Egyptian pounds ($8 billion) for fuel subsidies and 80 billion pounds for electricity subsidies in its budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year beginning in July, the cabinet said on Monday.

The cost of fuel imports has soared since Egypt floated its pound currency in November, prompting it to halve in value against the dollar within weeks.

The government spent 78 billion pounds on fuel subsidies in the first nine months of the 2016-17 fiscal year, up from 41 billion in the same period of the previous year.

EGPC wins court decision in France, no longer required to pay NATGAS EGP 250 mn - ENTERPRISE

Monday, 5 June 2017

ENTERPRISE EXCLUSIVE- The French Court of Cassation has issued a verdict reversing a decision that had required state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC) to pay National Gas Company (NATGAS) EGP 250 mn in damages as part of a 2009 case. Deputy Justice Minister for Arbitration and International Disputes Moustafa El Bahabety led the team that defended EGPC, which successfully filed case number 16-13.729 to the French Court of Cassation. 

The case had been moved to France from Egypt after NATGAS filed an appeal to the Versailles Court of Appeals, which ruled in its favour and imposed a freeze on EGPC’s assets in France. This most recent reversal by the French Court of Cassation, won by El Bahabety’s team, means EGPC is no longer required to pay EGP 250 mn to NATGAS. The French Court of Cassation referred the case back to the lower Paris Court of Appeals, and ordered NATGAS to pay EUR 3k in legal fees.

Dana Gas Names Advisers for $700 Million of Islamic Debt - BLOOMBERG

4 June 2017, 11:30 a.m. EEST
Anthony Dipaola

• ‘Restructuring may be easier than others’: Arqaam analyst
• Dana Gas has $700 million in Islamic bonds due in October

Dana Gas PJSC named legal and financial advisers to assess options for about $700 million in Islamic bonds due in October, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Houlihan Lokey Inc. will serve as financial adviser and Squire Patton Boggs LLP will provide legal counsel, according to the person, who asked not be identified because the matter is not public. None of the companies commented.

Egypt aims to cut fuel imports to 10 pct of consumption by 2019 - REUTERS AFRICA

Sun Jun 4, 2017 9:39am GMT
Reporting by Ehab Farouk; Writing Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Susan Fenton

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt is looking to ramp up petroleum production over the next two years, aiming to reduce fuel imports to about 10 percent of total consumption from 30 percent currently, media quoted Oil Minister Tarek El Molla as saying.

Once an energy exporter, Egypt has turned into a net importer in recent years, squeezed by declining production and increasing consumption.

Egypt has been trying to reverse that trend, speeding up production of oil and gas at recent discoveries. Large natural gas finds are expected to make Cairo self-sufficient in gas by the end of 2018, and it is now looking to make similar progress in petroleum.

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.

Three concession contracts signed for Greek hydrocarbon utilization - KATHIMERINI

Minister Giorgos Stathakis (left) with Energean's Mathios Rigas

26.05.2017 : 21:48
Chryssa Liaggou

The government has sent a positive message to the global oil industry just days after ExxonMobil and Total officials visited Athens. Environment and Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis on Thursday signed concession agreements for the onshore blocks in Arta-Preveza and the northwestern Peloponnese with Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), and in Aitoloacarnania with Energean Oil & Gas. These agreements had been pending since February 2016.

Stathakis announced that the government will soon also sign the concession contracts for the Ionian 2 offshore block with the Total-Edison-ELPE consortium and for the Ionian 10 block with ELPE.

Energean signs large Greek lease - NATURAL GAS WORLD

Energean CEO Mathios Rigas (left) signs the lease

May 25th, 201710:40amMark Smedley

Greek upstream independent Energean Oil & Gas said May 25 it has signed a lease agreement with the Greek government for the 4,360-km² Aitoloakarnania block onshore Greece – described as a geological continuation of the Ioaninna block, which Energean has explored since 2014.

Spanish energy firm Repsol in March agreed to farm into a 60% interest in both onshore blocks in western Greece that together cover 8,547 km².

Energean said May 25 that Repsol is planned to become operator of both, and that the two companies have already submitted an application to the Greek government to approve Repsol’s plans to farm in and undertake a 2D seismic survey over the Ioannina block in 2017/2018, and conduct 2D seismic survey over the Aitoloakarnania block in 2018/2019.

Projects interconnecting energy and geopolitics need to have a market - KATHIMERINI

THURSDAY MAY 25, 2017, 09:43
GEORGE GEORGAKOPOULOS

A host of energy projects, such as TAP, IGB, Turkish Stream and others are under way or in the preparation phase in the Balkans and Black Sea region, and Greece must make the most of them to upgrade its status to energy hub, notes Dr Theodoros Tsakiris, assistant professor of energy policy and geopolitics at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus.

He is taking part in the Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum that opens on Thursday in Serres during a period of frantic planning and project implementation as regards a number of interconnection pipelines and energy networks across the region, with multiple geopolitical and financial implications. He cautions that interconnection projects have to make financial sense to be feasible regardless of their political significance and highlights several projects of energy source diversification that will free the region of various dependencies.

Israel's Energy Ministry Launches PR Campaign to Win Over Natural Gas Critics - HAARETZ

May 23, 2017 9:38 AM
Nati Tucker and Avi Bar-Eli
The campaign is designed to encourage Israeli industry to use natural gas and thus reduce costs and air pollution, the ministry says
The Energy Ministry is investing 7 million shekels ($2 million) in a PR campaign designed to win the public over to its side after suffering the wrath of social justice protesters and heavy criticism over the government’s natural gas policy.

The campaign was launched last week and will target opponents of the offshore gas policy. The initial message includes the slogan “Run and bury it deep in the ground” − apparently a gibe at Israelis seeking to hinder the exploitation of the country’s abundant natural gas reserves discovered earlier in the decade.

On Sunday the ministry, whose full name is the National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Ministry, unveiled a video explaining the advantages of natural gas. But it also has other promotional material that has been described as targeting critics of the government’s policy.