DESFA-AlbGaz to form joint venture for TAP pipeline in Albania - ANA-MPA

13/ 04/ 2017

Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator S.A (DESFA) and Albania's AlbGaz have agreed to set up a joint venture to operate and maintain the sections of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in Albania. 

A memorandum of understanding signed by DESFA CEO Sotirios Nikas and AlbGaz CEO Klodian Gradeci in Tirana on Wednesday calls for the transfer of knowhow from DESFA to the new venture, which will be based in the Albanian capital.

Details on the new company's corporate structure will be decided by a working group set up for this purpose in the coming weeks.

Turkey Sees No Need for Cyprus to Approve Israel Gas Pipeline - RIGZONE / BLOOMBERG

Thursday, April 13, 2017
David Wainer

(w/ assistance from Paul Tugwell, Georgios Georgiou and Selcan Hacaoglu)

(Bloomberg) -- A Turkey-Israel gas pipeline deal could be built through Cyprus’ economic waters even without Cypriot consent, a Turkish official said, dismissing what some experts see as a key obstacle to an energy deal between the two Mediterranean countries.

Cyprus can’t block a gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey, and gas talks with Israel don’t hinge on attempts to reach a peace deal in Cyprus, the Turkish official said, requesting anonymity because the matter is sensitive. A pipeline bringing gas from Israel’s Leviathan field to Turkey would need to pass through Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone and the Cypriots would be informed about the plans, but international maritime law allows the pipeline to be laid even without Cyprus’s consent, he said.

Cyprus-talk restart lifts hope for gas line - OIL & GAS JOURNAL

HOUSTON, Apr. 12 2017
By OGJ editors

Prospects improved for construction of a natural gas pipeline between East Mediterranean fields and Turkey Apr. 11 when negotiations over the reunification of Cyprus resumed after a 54-day break.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader (Note: of Cyprus' largely secular Turkish Cypriot minority) Mustafa Akinci scheduled four meetings during the next month and a half but set no deadline for an agreement.

EC’s Director General meets with Finance and Petroleum Ministers - ENTERPRISE / EGYPT'S MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM

Thursday, 13 April 2017

Finance Minister Amr El Garhy discussed cooperating with the European Commission on improving the country’s tax system with its Director GeneralChristian Danielsson on Wednesday. The commission’s delegation expressed interest in providing technical and financial support to improve the efficiency of Egypt’s tax collection, and helping bring up revenues in line with economic performance, according to a ministry statement.

The European delegation also sat down with Oil Minister Tarek El Molla to discuss implementing the Natural Gas Act, which would deregulate Egypt’s gas market and see the state take on the role of regulator. They discussed the possibility of the EU funding more sustainable energy projects, according to a statement from the ministry.

EU backs Israel-to-Italy pipeline to alter East Med energy chessboard - HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

Ministers of Cyprus, Italy, Israel & Greece, with EU Commissioner 

April/13/2017
Micha'el Tanchum

On April 3, the European Union and the governments of Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Israel pledged their support for the construction of the world’s longest undersea natural gas pipeline to transport Eastern Mediterranean gas to EU markets via Greece and Italy. Costing over $6 billion, the more than 2,000-kilometer mega-pipeline could transform the energy geopolitics of the region. The so-called Cross-Med (East Med) pipeline would reduce the EU’s reliance on Turkey’s Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) as the major supply route for non-Russian natural gas.

NOC: Libya's Wafa Oil And Gas Field Reopens, Force Majeure Lifted - RIGZONE / REUTERS

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Reporting: Ahmed Elumami; Writing: Aidan Lewis, Patrick Markey; Editing: Susan Thomas

TRIPOLI, April 12 (Reuters) - Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has lifted force majeure on production from the Wafa field after an armed group reopened oil and gas pipelines leading to the Mellitah terminal, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Production of oil, gas and condensates had been interrupted at Wafa by a shutdown that started on March 26 near the town of Nalut. Wafa is operated by Mellitah Oil Co, a joint venture between NOC and Italy's ENI.

The reopening would allow Mellitah to restore production of about 450 million cubic feet of gas, 9,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil, and 7,500 bpd of condensate, NOC said.

Turkey gas exploration raises eyebrows - KATHIMERINI

President Anastasiades of Cyprus (middle) with the leaders of
the other six southern EU nations

12.04.2017 : 21:52
Vassilis Nedos

Tensions between Nicosia and Ankara could escalate next week as there are fears that Turkish plans to perform deep-sea drilling and seismic surveys for oil and natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean could be carried out within Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), where the island’s government announced on Tuesday it will conduct its own research.

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak has said that his country will launch exploration – as early as next week – in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and that it will be conducting more active two- and three-dimensional seismic surveys in both locations.

Nicosia announces start of seismic surveys - TEKMOR MONITOR

Cyprus announced the start of seismic surveys in its exclusive economic zone, in blocks 6, 8, 9 and 11, whose licenses are held by oil majors ENI and Total, to be conducted by PSG's R/V “RAMFORM HYPERION”. The NAVTEX follows.

07 1800 UTC APR 2017 

JRCC LARNACA/CYPRUS RADIO NAV WRNG NR 136/17

SEISMIC SURVEYS BY R/V RAMFORM HYPERION FROM 07 APR 2017 TO 15 AUG 2017 WITHIN THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: 

Egypt to import 1 million barrels of crude oil a month from Iraq - EGYPT INDEPENDENT / REUTERS

Lukoil logo In West Qurna oilfield, Basra, Iraq, March 29, 2014.

Wed, 12/04/2017 - 15:11

The Cabinet has agreed to import one million barrels of Iraqi oil a month, Minister of Petroleum Tareq el-Molla announced.

The contract for the deal will be signed within days, he added in a press conference on Tuesday at the Cabinet headquarters.

Molla expectes the first shipment to reach Egypt on May 1. The ship capacity is up to two million barrels. A total of 12 shipments will reach Egypt a year, he added.

Azerbaijan president: gas pipeline to EU will not be stopped - CLIMATE HOME

11/04/2017, 9:47am
Karl Mathiesen

Environmental protests against the $46bn Southern Gas Corridor are baseless, says Ilham Aliyev, who expects to begin exporting gas through the pipeline by 2018

A massive pipeline linking Azerbaijan’s gas fields to the networks of Europe is an inevitability, Azeri president Ilham Aliyev has told his cabinet.

“The implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor is already a reality. True, there are those who want to prevent us. It is natural. We came across these ten years ago,” said Aliyev, as reported by the Azerbaijan Press Agency on Tuesday.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the world’s largest fossil fuel projects, with a projected construction cost of $46bn.

Libya halts Sharara oil loadings as biggest field stops pumping - WORLD OIL / BLOOMBERG

April/10/2017

Salma Alma El Wardany and Saleh Sarrar

CAIRO and DUBAI (Bloomberg) -- Libya’s biggest oil field stopped producing just one week after it reopened, forcing the OPEC member to declare force majeure at a key export terminal, the latest disruptions to the country’s output and shipments of crude.

The pipeline carrying crude from Sharara, Libya’s biggest field, to the Zawiya refinery stopped operating on Sunday, according to two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak to the media. It wasn’t clear why the pipeline was shut. The National Oil Corp. declared force majeure on loadings of Sharara crude from the Zawiya oil terminal, citing a halt in production at the field, according to a copy of the NOC’s decree obtained by Bloomberg.

TransGlobe Energy Corporation Announces Q1 2017 Operations Update - TRANSGLOBE ENERGY CORPORATION

April 10, 2017

TransGlobe Energy Corporation (Calgary, Alberta) announced an operational update. Below the Egypt related section. For the complete press release click the link below.

Total Company production averaged 16,841 Boepd in March, comprised of 14,152 Bopd in Egypt and 2,689 Boepd in Canada (57% light oil and liquids). Total Company production averaged approximately 16,672 Boepd in the first quarter, comprised of 13,941 Bopd in Egypt and 2,731 Boepd in Canada (57% light oil and liquids). This is an increase over the first quarter 2016 of approximately 38% including the Canadian acquisition or a 17% increase in Egyptian production.

Shale Gas And Its Impact On Turkish Economy – OpEd - EURASIA REVIEW

April 10, 2017
Haluk Direskeneli

“Shale Gas” is on the agenda. What is “Shale gas”? Is Shale Gas production as easy as you might think? Is it cheap? Do we have it in our environment? Can we produce? What is the cost of Shale Gas production? What happens to the environment in Shale Gas production process?

Shale gas is basically natural gas. Only the thermal calorific value is a bit low. Shale gas production is same as Natural Gas production by non-traditional, non-conventional method. The soil structure “thin-bedded, rich in organic matter”, is suitable for producing oil and gas is called “Shale”.

“Shale Gas” is the method of taking the Natural Gas that is trapped between the deep underground rocks. Shale Oil (Shale Petroleum) are removed by the same methods. Shale Gas and Shale Oil production technology are not new practice. Since 1947 there has been market practice in the United States.

Energy minister plays down Turkish threats over gas drilling - CYPRUS MAIL

Cyprus' Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis

April 10, 2017
George Psyllides

Turkish threats over the Republic’s natural gas exploration are nothing new, Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said on Monday, reiterating that Cyprus would continue applying its policy on energy.

“Provocations and threats are nothing new,” the minister said.

Ankara had issued threats in 2007, 2011, when US-based Noble Energy started drilling, as well as 2012, when Cyprus announced its second hydrocarbon licensing round.

“We must handle them calmly and certainly we must be prepared well,” Lakkotrypis said.

Gas pipelines: Politics and reality - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

April 9, 2017
Charles Ellinas

With the joint declaration of the Energy Ministers of Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy and European Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete at a meeting in Tel Aviv on Monday, the issue of gas pipelines is back in the limelight.

This was the first such meeting involving these five parties. The focus was the unveiling of the plans for the natural gas pipeline from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe (the East Med gas pipeline).

Prime Minister, Minister of Petroleum meet with Shell Upstream International Director - ENERGY EGYPT / EGYPT'S MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM

 

April 9, 2017

Egyptian Prime Minister, Eng. Sherif Ismail, met with Andrew Brown, Upstream International Director at Shell in the presence of Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, and Eng. Gasser Hanter, Country Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell Egypt, to discuss existing and potential opportunities in Egypt’s oil and gas exploration.

The meeting included a report about the company’s work in Egypt and the existing opportunities in gas exploration. Prime Minister confirmed that the Egyptian oil and gas sector is a promising industry with a great future. Additionally, the government is keen to increase the profit of natural minerals and to better manage these resources. The government is also promoting mineral developments to attract further investments.

Edison begins production from new platform in Abu Qir concession, output up 20% - ENTERPRISE / EDISON

Sunday, 9 April 2017

Edison announced beginning production from the new platform North Abu Qir PIII (NA/Q-PIII) at the Abu Qir concession. 

The first production well, NAQPIII#1, came onstream last week and increased the overall natural gas output by circa 20%. 

Two additional wells are expected to be completed by July 2017, Edison says.

Agreement to import Iraqi crude to be finalized soon, Iraqi ambassador says - ENTERPRISE / REUTERS

Sunday, 9 April 2017

Egypt will finalize an agreement to import crude from Iraq soon. An Egyptian delegation will visit Iraq soon to close the agreement, which will include a 90-day grace period for payment, the Iraqi ambassador to Egypt Habib El Sadr told Reuters. 

Egypt has been in talks with Iraq to import 1 mn bbl of crude, with Oil Minister Tarek El Molla expecting the agreement to finalize this month. 

“The Iraqi government last week approved plans to extend two oil and gas pipelines from Iraq, via Jordan to Egypt at a cost of [USD 6 bn], the ambassador said, adding that the work will take three years to complete.”

Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) Pipeline, Bulgaria - HYDROCARBONS TECHNOLOGY

April 2017

Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) is a trans-boundary pipeline project involving the construction of a 182km-long natural gas pipeline between Greece and Bulgaria.

PROJECT TYPE: Natural gas pipeline -- LOCATION: Greece-Bulgaria -- START OF CONSTRUCTION: 2018 -- ESTIMATED INVESTMENT:€160m ($170m) -- EXPECTED COMPLETION: 2020 -- LENGTH: 182km -- CAPACITY: Three billion cubic metre a year

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Press Release No:105 issued by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs - REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

President Anastasiades (L), EU Commission President Juncker

07/04/2017 13:12

With reference to the press release, No: 105, issued by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 April 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus would like, once again, to reaffirm the determination of the Government of the Republic to continue its policy in the field of hydrocarbons thus fully exercising its sovereignty and sovereign rights in total respect of international and European law.

ANALYSIS: Italian gas supply sources shift in Q2, Russia now dominates - PLATTS

London (Platts)--7 Apr 2017 909 am EDT/1309 GMTStuart Elliott, edited by Alisdair Bowles
Since the start of the second quarter, gas flow dynamics around Europe have shifted -- both by route, source and destination -- pointing to continued supply flexibility in the European gas market.

Italy is often a good gauge of whether supply contracts are competitive versus each other and versus the northwest European hubs at any particular time, with Russian gas seemingly the most attractive since the start of Q2.

Italian buyers have import contracts with Russia's Gazprom and Algeria's Sonatrach, but can also import gas from the northwest European hubs, giving them options when long-term contract prices diverge from hub prices.

Exploratory drilling in Cyprus' EEZ to take place in July - SIGMA LIVE

06.04.2017 15:12

Exploratory drilling is set to take place in block 11 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the first two weeks of July, a top Total official said, on Thursday.

Eleanor Rowley, Total’s VP of Exploration, MENA region, was addressing a ceremony, at the Presidential Palace, during which the contracts for exploration and production sharing for blocks 6 and 8 within Cyprus’ EEZ were signed.

“I’m happy to say that this will be the first test of the Zohr play in Cypriot waters. So we are very excited to operate this well along with our partners ENI,” she said.

SCPX pipeline network on track for completion next year - UPSTREAM ONLINE

6 Apr 2017 09:47 GMT
Kama Mustafayeva

The Azeri and Georgian pipeline network that will feed Shah Deniz gas to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (Tanap) is likely to be completed next summer, writes Kama Mustafayeva.

The pipeline, known as SCPX, will be ready to receive production from Shah Deniz 2 in late June next year, according to Tanap managing director Saltuk Duzyol. "We plan to make our first gas delivery at the end of June 2018 if everything goes according to schedule. We are keeping costs relatively low," Duzyol said.

About 77% of the so-called "phase zero" of Tanap , which runs from the Turkish-Georgian border to Eskisehir has already been completed.

Greece to carve out slice of energy pie - KATHIMERINI

Energy heads (L to R) of Cyprus, Italy, Israel, Greece & the EU

06.04.2017 : 09:10
Vassilis Nedos

The deal signed on Monday between Greece, Israel, Cyprus and Italy in Tel Aviv for the creation of the Eastern Mediterranean (EastMed) gas pipeline, is, according to sources, a reaction to the competing Nord Stream II pipeline connecting Germany and Russia.

EU Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, who was present at the signing, denigrated Nord Stream II, saying it “adds nothing to the [EU’s] security of supply.”

Extension of two charter contracts - DEEP SEA SUPPLY PLC

Limassol 06 April 2017 

Deep Sea Supply is pleased to announce an extension of two time charter contracts with BP Egypt. The PSVs Sea Spear and Sea Spark have been awarded a 1 year extension of their charter contracts with start from end of current firm period, in July 2017. 

Both vessels started operations for BP Egypt in Egypt in July 2016 on one year firm and one year option contract. Following this extension both vessels are now firm until July 2018.

Egypt pledges to supply gas to Jordan - GLOBES

6 Apr, 2017 12:59
Nati Yefet

Egypt's promises will pile pressure on the Jordanians not to sign a binding gas agreement with the Leviathan partners.

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla this week repeated his prediction that Egypt would stop importing natural gas in 2018, and would instead supply all of its own needs. Jordanian news agency Petra reported that that at the international energy conference that took place in Oman on Sunday and Monday, El-Molla repeated his promise that Egypt would export gas to Jordan when its own supply is assured, i.e. in 2018 or 2019.

Egyptian oil and energy sector to reestablish work in Libya - LIBYAN EXPRESS

Thursday 6 April 2017

The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and energy sector construction company Petrojet plan to reestablish their presence in Libya, a Libyan official said yesterday, after a meeting with company representatives that also included the chair of Libya’s National Oil Corporation, Mustafa Sanallah.

NOC and EGPC also agreed to form a partnership to study possible oil and gas projects, although no further details were provided, OilPRice reported.

A meeting took place between the Egyptian officials and the Libyan ones headed by the Deputy Head of the Presidential Council, Ahmed Mitig.

Eni discovers gas, condensate offshore Libya - WORLD OIL

4/5/2017

SAN DONATO MILANESE, Milan -- Eni has made a new discovery of gas and condensates offshore Libya in the ‘Gamma Prospect‘, in the Contract Area D, 140 km offshore from Tripoli, in Libya. The discovery, made through the well B1 16/3, is located 15 km south west of the Bouri field and 5 km north of the Bahr Essalam field. The drilling of the Gamma prospect is part of the “near-field” exploration strategy of Eni, targeting opportunities, that in case of success can exploit synergies with existing infrastructures reducing the time to market and providing additional gas to the local market and export.

The well, drilled in 150 m of water depth, reached a total depth of 2,981 m and encountered gas and condensates in the Metlaoui Group of Eocene age. The well has the capacity to deliver, in production configuration, in ecxess of 7,000 boepd and represents a further discovery made by Eni in Libyan offshore Area D, following the discoveries made in 2015.

Cyprus and France update their Defence Cooperation Agreement - FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE / CNA

Wednesday, 05 April, 2017

Cyprus and France updated their Defence Cooperation Agreement, during an official visit to Paris of the Cyprus Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides.

According to an announcement by the Press and Information Office (PIO), the Cypriot Minister and his counterpart Jean - Yves Le Drian signed on Tuesday the updated version of the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

The Agreement updates and enhances the existing cooperation, while it extends it in new areas in light of new security challenges and the new geopolitical environment.

The Defence Cooperation Agreement covers new areas of cooperation such as energy and maritime security, terrorism and crisis management.

Cyprus begins signing EEZ energy contracts - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi (L), Andrew Swiger (C), Yiorgos Lakkotrypis (R) 

April 5, 2017

Cypriot concessions covering exploration rights within the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have been ratified with the signing of the first contracts with an energy firm consortium on Wednesday.

The signings will continue on Thursday too.

Last month, the cabinet approved contracts with France’s Total, Italy’s Eni, Exxon Mobil and Qatar Petroleum to explore for oil and gas in offshore areas south of the island. The consortium will officially sign the contracts with the Cypriot government for exploration rights for three offshore blocks off the south and south-western coast.

Welcoming the Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil Corporation, Andrew Swiger, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, and their associates, Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said that Wednesday’s signing ceremony concluded the 3rd licensing round.

Israel natural gas wealth fund expected to begin around 2020 - REUTERS

Tue Apr 4, 2017 | 8:39am EDTAri Rabinovitch; Editing: Tova Cohen

Israel's planned sovereign wealth fund, meant to safeguard billions of dollars in natural gas revenue, will begin operating around 2020, Bank of Israel Governor Karnit Flug said on Tuesday.

The central bank is overseeing establishment of the fund, which will be invested abroad to avoid a major influx of foreign currencies that could strengthen the shekel and undermine export industries.

Only income from the fund will be used domestically, for things like national projects and emergencies.

Oil prices fall as Libya's output rebound boosts supply - EGYPT INDEPENDENT / REUTERS

Tue, 04/04/2017 - 10:32

Oil prices fell on Tuesday as a rebound in Libyan crude production combined with an increase in US drilling to signal the potential for increased supply.

Benchmark Brent crude oil LCOc1 was down 20 cents at US$52.92 a barrel by 0735 GMT. US light crude oil CLc1 was 20 cents lower at US$50.04 a barrel.

Both benchmarks recovered from four-month lows last week on expectations that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would manage to tighten supply by cutting production under a deal agreed at the end of last year.

Constantinos Papalucas on EastMed Pipeline declaration in Tel Aviv. Why Italy wants in - ANT1 TV

Apr 4, 2017

In this 9 minute interview on ANTENNA's (ANT1, Cyprus) daily show with Nikitas Kyriakou (04/APRIL/2017) Constantinos Papalucas discusses the Israel/ Cyprus/ Greece/ Italy (plus EU) quadrilateral meeting on the East Med Pipeline, Italy's interest in the project and other eastern Mediterranean energy developments following the completion of Cyprus' 3rd licensing round which has seen oil majors either gain a foothold in Cypriot EEZ (ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum) or extend their presence (ENI and Total). The interview is in Greek with English Subtitles.

Constantinos Papalucas is a former Associate with the Environment and Natural Resources Program (ENRP) at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs where he focused on the issues surrounding the gas finds and the emerging energy hubs in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Ambitious East Med pipeline plans unveiled in Tel Aviv - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

April 3, 2017

Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Italy on Monday presented their plan for construction of a 1,300-kilometer undersea gas pipeline, the longest in the world.

The energy ministries of Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy have over the past six months been conducting frequent talks with the European Commission DG Energy about exporting gas from Israel to Europe.

Israel, meanwhile, is also understood to still be considering a 500km pipeline agreement with Turkey which will involve passing through Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Rosneft takes key step in push into Middle East - FINANCIAL TIMES

APRIL 3, 2017
Henry Foy in Moscow and David Sheppard in Lausanne; Add'l reporting by Anjli Raval

Russian oil group to expand trading after trumpeting agreements in Egypt and Libya

Russia’s Rosneft will this week take custody of its first independently sourced cargo of Kurdish crude oil from Turkey’s port of Ceyhan, a key step in its strategic push into Middle East energy markets and its attempts to expand trading.

The world’s largest listed oil company by output has spent the past four months trumpeting agreements to buy oil from Egypt, Libya and Iraqi Kurdistan, drilling exploration wells in southern Iraq and considering opportunities in Lebanon, as it chases deals to fuel its fledgling international expansion.

World's longest underwater gas pipeline from Israel to Europe set to run by 2025 - JERUSALEM POST

April 3, 2017 15:02 
Sharon Udasin 

The proposed 2,000 kilometer (subsea pipeline would connect gas fields offshore Israel and Cyprus with Greece and possibly Italy.

Aiming to transform the Eastern Mediterranean into a regional energy hub, Israeli and European officials signed a joint declaration on Monday to promote the construction of the world’s longest subsea gas pipeline.

"This is the beginning of our wonderful friendship between four Mediterranean countries – Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy,” National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz said at a press conference in Tel Aviv that morning. "This is going to be the longest and deepest subsea gas pipeline in the world. It's a very ambitious project."

A two-minute video of the signing ceremony here.

Turkey’s floating LNG imports deliver cheaper gas and energy security - LNG WORLD SHIPPING

Mon 03 Apr 2017

Turkey’s new floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) will alleviate strain on seasonal imports and enables the country to diversify its sources of supply, writes Anders Norlen

Turkey’s gas consumption is rising fast and sharp seasonal demand swings and limited storage mean supply is tight over winter. Deploying FSRUs offers a solution to Turkey’s problems.

The Turkish gas market has grown over the last 10 years from 27bcm in 2005 to 48bcm in 2016. About 70 per cent of this demand growth has come from increased gas use in power and industry, reflecting the last decade’s robust economic growth and a 30 per cent hike in winter heating demand in the residential and commercial sector.

Gov't signs 7 energy deals - PETRA JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Amman, April 2 2017 (Petra) -- The government on Sunday signed 7 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding on the sidelines of the third Jordan International Energy Summit.

The deals included a memo to import and export natural gas and liquefied gas, which was inked by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Seif, and his Egyptian counterpart, Tariq Al-Mulla.

Another deal with the Jordanian-Egyptian Fajr for Natural Gas Transmission and Supply company was signed to frame ties between the two sides in the field of natural gas sale. It was sealed by Director General of the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), Abdel Fattah Daradkeh, and Chairman of the Jordanian-Egyptian Fajr Company, Fouad Rashad.
Further, General Manager of the Manaseer company for iron and steel, Mohamamd Kharabsheh, signed an agreement with Fajr company chairman, Fouad Rashad, to set up a point to supply gas.

EU delegation visits Israel for gas pipeline talks - GLOBES

2 Apr, 2017 18:36
Nati Yefet

With Cyprus and Greece, Israel will present a plan for construction of a 1,300-kilometer undersea gas pipeline, the longest in the world.

The diversification of Europe's sources of natural gas is an important opportunity for taking advantage of the gas discoveries in Israel. The energy ministries of Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy have been conducting frequent talks with the European Commission DG Energy about exporting gas from Israel to Europe for the past six months. European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete is visiting Israel today in order to attend an event tomorrow in Tel Aviv with Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz, Italian Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda, Greek Energy and Environment Minister Giorgos Stathakis, and Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis. The background to the meeting is a report that the European Commission has withdrawn its opposition to building two additional gas pipelines for transporting gas from Russia to Europe.

Visit by US energy official a sign of Washington’s support, spokesman says - CYPRUS MAIL

April 2, 2017

The visit to Cyprus this coming week by a senior US energy official is an important development and a signal from the US government of its support for the island’s hydrocarbons development, Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on Sunday.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy, at the Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources, Robin Dunnigan is due on the island on Wednesday.

Dunnigan met Christodoulides in Washington last week with whom she discussed the prospects for energy cooperation between the two countries.

Appointments at Egyptian state petroleum companies - ENTERPRISE / AMAY

Sunday, 2 April 2017

Mohamed Abdel Azim was named president of Khalda Petroleum Company and vice-president at state gas outfit EGAS, AMAY reports.

The appointment was made yesterday (April 1st) by Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla, who also appointed Sayed Mowafi as a vice-president at Khalda and Alaa Abdel Fattah Al Battal as a vice-president at Agiba Petroleum Company. 

Mahmoud Abdel Fattah was appointed head of Petroshahd, while Ashraf Yahia Al Ameer was appointed head of PetroSannan.

Repsol joins Greek energy quest with Energean Oil - KATHIMERINI

31.03.2017 : 19:15

Spain’s Repsol has entered a so-called farm-in agreement with Energean Oil & Gas for a 60 percent stake in two onshore blocks in western Greece, Energean Oil said on Friday.

Under a farm-in agreement, an oil and gas company acquires an interest in a lease owned by another group.

Repsol will become the operator of the Ioannina and Aitoloacarnania blocks and plans to acquire seismic surveys over the areas in the 2017-19 period, Energean said.

Energean, Greece’s sole oil producer, holds an exploration license in Ioannina and is expected to acquire one for the other block.

Energean did not disclose the size of the deal, which is subject to Greek approval.

Energean chief executive officer Mathios Rigas said that the agreement was a significant step forward for the development of the Greek oil and gas sector.

Lakkotrypis heading for Israel meetings - CYPRUS MAIL

March 31, 2017

Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis will depart for Tel Aviv on Sunday where he will participate in a meeting with energy ministers from Greece, Israel and Italy about the East Med gas pipeline on Monday morning.

The meeting, which will conclude with a joint press conference will be held in the presence of the European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete.

According to a PIO (Cyprus Press Information Office) statement the East Med pipeline is a strategic project for the Eastern Mediterranean which aims to create a direct export route for gas supplies in the region to Europe.

EU eyes East Mediterranean gas supplies - NEW EUROPE

March 31, 2017 16:01
New Europe Online/KG

Cañete to visit Tel Aviv on April 3 for EastMed Energy Summit talks with Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Italy

European Union Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will travel to Tel Aviv on April 3 to discuss the potential of gas from the eastern Mediterranean region for Europe with the Energy Ministers from Israel, Greece, Cyprus and Italy.

At the ministerial EastMed Energy Summit, the Commissioner and Ministers will discuss East Med developments in the energy sector and options for meeting the needs of the Israeli and European gas markets.

ENI also likely to operate out of Limassol - CYPRUS MAIL

March 30, 2017

Elias Hazou

AFTER energy giants Total, it looks like ENI will likewise operate – albeit grudgingly – out of the port of Limassol for their scheduled drilling operations, slated to get underway later this year.

“Larnaca port is definitely out,” Alecos Michaelides, permanent secretary of the transport ministry and former president of the Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA) board, told the Cyprus Mail.

Michaelides confirmed news reports that DP World, the concession holders operating the multi-purpose terminal of Limassol port for the next 25 years, plan to have an onshore logistics base supporting hydrocarbons activities up and running by this summer.

ENI are contractually bound to start drilling two more wells before February 2018, when their offshore exploration licence expires.

Wildcats drive East Med to world stage - UPSTREAM ONLINE

30 Mar 2017 10:42 GMT
Iain Esau

Hopes Total's Onesiphoros West-1 probe off Cyprus could match Eni's gaint Zohr find off Egypt

The East Mediterranean's status as a key global gas play could be further enhanced this year if a wildcat to be drilled off Cyprus this year fulfils expectations.

France's Total is preparing to spud the Onesiphoros West-1 probe in Block 11, targeting a huge carbonate prospect that is geologically comparable to Eni’s 30 trillion cubic foot Zohr discovery just across the maritime border in Egypt.

For years the area had been dominated by Egypt’s well-known Nile Delta gas play extending from the swamps into ultra-deep waters.

Delek Group Announces Consolidated Full Year Results 2016 - DELEK GROUP

Tel Aviv, March 30, 2017, Delek Group Ltd. announced today its results for the fourth quarter and full year period ended December 31, 2016. The press release follows. The full financial statements are available in English on Delek Group’s website.

East Mediterranean E&P SummaryNet income from the sector for 2016 was NIS 413 million, an increase of 52% compared to a net income of NIS 272 million in 2015. The growth was mainly due to the increase in the quantities of natural gas, as well as condensate, sold from the Tamar project in 2016. The average natural gas price in Israel in 2016 amounted to USD $5.2/MMBtu.

Financial Highlights

• Following four years of successful on going production, the Tamar field reached peak production – natural gas sold was at a record of 9.4 BCM in 2016 (~0.9 Bcf/d);
• The E&P sector contributed a record NIS 413 million to the 2016 net income versus NIS 272 million in 2015 ;
• A Final Investment Decision (FID) for Phase 1A of the development plan for Leviathan was sanctioned by the partners at a capacity of 12 BCM per year (~1.2 Bcf/d);
• Delek Group advances its international strategy: makes an offer to purchase remaining share capital of Ithaca Energy;
• Completed sales of Karish and Tanin, generating net profit for the Group of NIS 253 million;
• Record net income amounting to NIS 625 million in 2016, compared with NIS 25 million in 2015;
• Dividend of NIS 200 million declared for the fourth quarter; a total of NIS 560 million distributed for 2016.

Delek Group Announces Consolidated Full Year Results 2016

UPDATE 2-Genel targets Turkey gas deal this year to overcome oil troubles - REUTERS

LONDON Thu Mar 30, 2017 | 5:15am EDTKarolin Schaps; Editing by David Evans and Susan Thomas

• $779 mln in exploration write-offs in 2016
• Annual operating loss of $1.2 bln
• Shares recover slightly after record low on reserves cut
• Receivables fall to $253.5 million (Recasts with gas projects, adds CEO, analyst comments, share price)

Genel Energy, the oil producer chaired by former BP boss Tony Hayward, expects to strike a gas-export partnership deal with Turkey Energy Company this year, it said on Thursday, as it tries to overcome setbacks in oil exploration.

Genel slipped further into the red last year after it again downgraded reserves at its flagship oilfield and weak oil prices ate into profits, it said.

Total - ENI preparing to drill - PHILELEFTHEROS / TEKMOR MONITOR

29.3.2017

Cypriot daily "Phileleftheros" reports that the Total-ENI consortium are in the last phase of preparations for drilling the "Onisiforos" well in Block 11 of Cypriot EEZ. The drill ship "West Capella" has been contracted for this purpose, whose last contract working at Usan offshore field located in the Gulf of Guinea was terminated by ExxonMobil exactly one year ago.

The "Onisiforos" target is located on the fringes of Cypriot EEZ, less than 15 km away from Zohr's, ENI's 30tcf mega find, 8th well.

According to a Seadrill Partners LLC (owned by Norwegian, Cyprus passport holder, John Fredriksen) press release the «West Capella» contract was secured with Total E&P Cyprus B.V. The $10 m contract is said to start in the 2nd half of 2017, and the drill is estimated to last 50 days.

The «West Capella» has recently been upgraded with an «MPD» (Managed Pressure Drilling) system. 

Turkey returns to Russian gas- VESTNIK KAVKAZA

Mar 29 - 4:20 pm

Turkey continues to increase the volume of Russian gas purchases. The trend, which has been observed since the last autumn, continues to gain momentum. According to the latest data, in January-February 2017, Turkey increased Russian's gas imports by 16.6% compared to the same period in 2016.

The expansion of cooperation in the energy sphere was discussed by the Presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during the Turkish leader's visit to Moscow in early March. Erdogan said then that the Russian-Turkish energy cooperation is of great importance both in terms of natural gas and in terms of other elements, and in general this process is increasingly developing.

Jordanians really don't want Israel’s gas - AL MONITOR

March 29, 2017

Mohammad Ersan; translated by Pascale el-Khoury

AMMAN, Jordan — Voices opposed to a gas sales and purchase agreement (GSPA) signed in September between Jordan’s National Electric Power Company and the operator of an Israeli gas field got louder March 20 when the Jordanian parliament obtained a copy of the agreement, whose details had been kept secret. Those against the contract are calling on the parliament to reject it. 

Houston-based Noble Energy holds the concession for developing Israel’s largest offshore gas deposit, the Leviathan natural gas field, 50 miles off the coast of Haifa in the Mediterranean. The agreement, expected to enter into force in 2019, has sparked demonstrations because many Jordanians view it as tantamount to normalization with Israel. According to the GSPA, Jordan will import 300 million cubic feet of gas per day from the Leviathan field for 15 years at a cost of $10 billion. Noble has a nearly 40% working interest in the field, while Israeli companies hold the rest.

Egypt to sell 24% shares in state-owned Enppi: oil minister - AMWAL AL GHAD / ZAWYA

29 March, 2017
By Mahmoud Shaaban

Egyptian government has approved listing 24 percent share of state-owned company Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries (Enppi) on the local stock market, Oil Minister Tarek el-Molla announced Tuesday.

NI Capital, a financial company affiliated to the National Investment Bank, will evaluate the fair value of Enppi ahead of starting initial public offering process, the Egyptian minister added.

Earlier, El-Molla said that the government were assessing some state-owned petroleum companies for their suitability for a possible listing on the Egyptian stock market or share issuances, adding that planned IPOs would take place before the end of the current financial year.

Egypt to halve arrears with oil companies in coming weeks - REUTERS AFRICA

Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:21am GMTStephen Jewkes

RAVENNA, Italy (Reuters) - Egypt expects to cut the $3.5 billion euros it owes to international oil companies by around half in coming weeks, the Egyptian oil minister said on Wednesday.

"We have made a lot of progress on paying off arrears," Tarek El Molla said at an oil and gas conference.

The minister also said he expected to finalise an agreement to import crude oil directly from Iraq in a month at the most.

"We will import around 1 million barrels a month," he said.

Asked when Egypt might become an exporter of oil and gas, Molla said the country would be self sufficient by the end of 2018.

"Starting from 2019 and beyond we can start talking about exporting," he said.

Genel Shares Hit All-Time Low As Oil Reserves Disappear - RIGZONE / REUTERS

Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Esha Vaish, Justin George Varghese (Bengaluru), Dmitry Zhdannikov (London); editing by Louise Heavens

March 28 (Reuters) - Genel Energy's market value collapsed to an all-time low on Tuesday after it said for a second time that its flagship oilfield contains less crude than expected, dealing another blow to chairman Tony Hayward to rescue the indebted Kurdish producer.

Since listing in 2011 and claiming to be the largest independent UK listed firm by reserves, Genel has been hit by a string of unsuccessful exploration campaigns in Africa and reserves at its largest Iraqi Kurdistan field shrinking to just a tenth.

Investors who bought into Genel at 11 pounds ($13.8) a share in early 2014 were left with 60 pence on Tuesday as reserve cuts, an oil price collapse and Iraq's fight against Islamic State hammered the stock.