Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information

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Ethan / JRyan
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Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Aug 17, 2018 21:36:00 GMT -5

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Post by Ethan / JRyan on Aug 17, 2018 21:36:00 GMT -5

Well this one was ignored by some. In 2004 it was at least possible to some. No one knows but one thing is for sure. He can do anything!

There could be a reservoir of 980 million barrels of oil at the Meged-4 well northeast of Kfar Sava, exploration company Givot Olam said yesterday, reporting geological findings to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

Givot Olam Reports $6 Billion Oil Reservoir Near Kfar Sava
There could be a reservoir of 980 million barrels of oil at the Meged-4 well northeast of Kfar Sava, exploration company Givot Olam said yesterday, reporting geological findings to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Amiram Cohen
May 05, 2004 12:00 AM

There are others, we really just do not know. Here are a few that speak of the potential energy in the area. NatGas has already been found, and there were many doubters there also. FACT

Will Israel Win the Energy Prize in the Levant Basin?

Levant Basin Holds Massive Energy Potential

Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the Levant Basin

Levant Basin Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential

Last Edit: Mar 24, 2019 19:14:38 GMT -5 by Ethan / JRyan

By Grace Alone Go I

Ethan / JRyan
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Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Aug 18, 2018 10:17:45 GMT -5

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Post by Ethan / JRyan on Aug 18, 2018 10:17:45 GMT -5

Great new link with good stuff and guess what?

Download the PDF here
www.energy-sea.gov.il/English-Site/PublishingImages/Pages/Forms/EditForm/Roadshow%20Presentation%20Dr.%20Michael%20Gardosh_Levant%20Basin%20HC%20Potential.pdf

Some other pictures that will help with location of where we are at :

Last Edit: Aug 18, 2018 10:51:43 GMT -5 by Ethan / JRyan

By Grace Alone Go I

shout(ON)ZION Disciple Posts: 52	Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Aug 19, 2018 10:43:36 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by shout(ON)ZION on Aug 19, 2018 10:43:36 GMT -5 So what happen to this?

Ethan / JRyan Administrator By Grace Alone Go I... Posts: 980	Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Aug 19, 2018 12:24:15 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Ethan / JRyan on Aug 19, 2018 12:24:15 GMT -5 What do you mean? It is all still there, the information and its implications?
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Ethan / JRyan
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Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Mar 6, 2019 20:20:13 GMT -5 ccrc79 likes this

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Post by Ethan / JRyan on Mar 6, 2019 20:20:13 GMT -5

Some links and articles

Abu-Gosh and Leal-Arcas GAS AND OIL IN THE LEVANT BASIN 1GAS AND OIL EXPLORATIONS IN THE LEVANT BASIN: THE CASE OF LEBANON AND ISRAEL

Levant Basin Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential

Natural Gas Discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean

Israel Opportunity - Energy Resources, LP.

Levant Basin - Interesting Pictures for Reference

Link to PDF
Structural characteristics and petroleum exploration of

Levant Basin in Eastern Mediterranean

Last Edit: Mar 24, 2019 18:31:52 GMT -5 by Ethan / JRyan

By Grace Alone Go I

Ethan / JRyan
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Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Mar 16, 2019 16:43:36 GMT -5

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Post by Ethan / JRyan on Mar 16, 2019 16:43:36 GMT -5

March 10, 2019 Topic: Energy Blog Brand: The Buzz Tags: GreeceTurkeyCyprusOilMediterranean

Things Are About to Change: Oil and Gas Have Been Found in the Eastern Mediterranean

Large quantities of oil and natural gas have been discovered in the East Med and the race to extract them has begun. These hydrocarbon finds hold the potential to build regional stability and to bolster the economies of important US allies and partners, all of which is in the interest of the United States. But these discoveries could just as easily stoke further instability and conflict if nations default to historic resentments and if regional powers jockey to monopolize on or block access to this strategic treasure.

Extending from Israel and Egypt in the East and South to Turkey, Greece and Italy in the North and West, the Eastern Mediterranean has long been an economically dynamic and politically important region for the United States and its NATO allies. It is about to become even more important.

Large quantities of oil and natural gas have been discovered in the East Med and the race to extract them has begun. These hydrocarbon finds hold the potential to build regional stability and to bolster the economies of important U.S. allies and partners, all of which is in the interest of the United States. But these discoveries could just as easily stoke further instability and conflict if nations default to historic resentments and if regional powers jockey to monopolize on or block access to this strategic treasure.

There are some early signs of cooperation, and these should be welcomed. States which acutely stand to benefit from the finds—Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt—have begun working toward a solution and have discussed various export options. The first-ever regional gas forum was held Jan 14, 2019, in Cairo, with these Eastern Mediterranean Gas (EMG) pipeline participating countries, along with Jordan, Italy and the Palestinian Authority. The meeting discussed the future of the EMG pipeline and the potential of Egypt as a regional gas export hub. Egypt owns robust domestic energy infrastructural facilities in the Nile Delta—including two LNG plants (sitting idle) and pipeline infrastructure for easy connection to the newly discovered hydrocarbons in the East Med for turnkey distribution to LNG markets in Africa, Israel and the Middle East.

The European Union, too, thinks the new gas and potential oil discoveries in the East Med could strengthen regional energy cooperation, aid overall regional political stability, and spur economic growth in important European economies such as Italy and Greece. A proposed EMG pipeline costing $7 billion and opening in the mid-2020s is a beacon of hope for the European Union to increase energy diversification, bring billions of dollars of lifetime revenues to southern Europe and curtailing Russia’s dominance over the European energy market.

Yet even with this early cooperation, the role of U.S. and NATO naval forces as a diplomatic and economic actor in U.S. foreign policy and execution has never been more important in the Eastern Med. The discovery of hydrocarbons in the East Med has initiated historical interest and possible shifts in the global balance of power in a region already full of ongoing tensions.

I have completed multiple tours in the region, with my last being as a Sixth Fleet Air Operation Officer, where I navigated firsthand the multiple lines of conflict. These conflicts, some fought in the open and others simmering beneath the surface, include disputes between Turkey and Israel, between Egypt and Turkey, between Turkey and Greece over territory and the Cyprus issue, and among Israel and its Arab neighbors, just to name a few. From my experience it is difficult to imagine an easy way forward as these conflicts continue to plague the region and make exploitation of the East Med natural resources a geopolitical issue.

Enter the United States. “The role of the U.S. Navy as a diplomatic and economic actor in US foreign policy and execution is as strong as ever and likely to remain so for the next several decades,” said the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, in February. Nowhere else do these words ring truer than in the Eastern Med, where stability and economic prosperity are at the cusp. Nowhere do risks to United States, NATO and its allies have more facets and come from more directions than in the Mediterranean region. Well-positioned naval forces have the flexibility to respond to any crisis that may arise in the region quickly and authoritatively all while creating stability through consistent presence.

It makes economic sense for the United States and NATO to deploy naval forces to the Eastern Med where four of the five major threats, to the United States and its allies, mentioned in the National Defense Strategy can be confronted while at the same time effecting a top economic and geopolitical priority. The security and prosperity of the European Union, specifically among its southern nations, depend on anticipating, containing, and reducing risks in the Mediterranean region by consistent presence. The United States and NATO must get ahead of adversaries in the region and have them react to Western moves rather than the West continue to react to the actions of its adversaries.

Diplomatic and economic functions of naval forces while conducting exercises with allies in the region should be the primary instruments in this effort, but hard power also has its role, especially when risks turn to threats and threats turn to violence. After all, there is still something to gunship diplomacy.

Even with U.S. presence, however, there must be a concerted effort. Egypt has established cooperation agreements with Israel, Cyprus and Greece. The four nations have made efforts that seek to enhance civil and military activities, including joint military drills to bolster interoperability and cooperation, and ultimately stability in the nations' energy sectors. U.S. and NATO forces must look for opportunities to join in these joint exercises.

Yet the discovery of these sizeable amounts of hydrocarbons has not only attracted the attention of the West, but also that of other nations worried about the potential effects on the region’s current power balance. Turkey, Russia, Iran and even China are attempting to gain geopolitical influence in this critical and distinct region.

The Eastern Med bustles with age-old local disputes that are territorial, ethnic and religious in origin. Turkey has opposed extraction activities off the coast of Cyprus and has threatened to blacklist major firms that take part in the extraction and exploration operations. Turkey not only challenged Greece and Cyprus over the ownership of the natural resources discovered in the region, but also has begun seismic and drilling activities in Cyprus’ UN recognized, exclusive economic zone. Furthermore, Turkey has enhanced cooperation with Iran —the two nations have established a comprehensive pipeline network to bring gas to the European markets. Both countries have been negotiating additional projects in the region, and now worry that an EMG pipeline will disrupt their efforts. Iran is trying to establish a foothold in Syria to ensure a post-conflict land bridge to the Eastern Med, further increasing its relevance in energy geopolitics and threat to Israel. Russia increasingly wants to be viewed as a respected global power in the region. It has established bases in Syria and has increased its military presence in the Eastern Med. Now it looks to have a say in the East Med and maintain its dominant stand in the global gas market. Finally, China is investing heavily in the East Med, as it views the East Med region as the western end of its Belt and Road Initiative and entry point to the European Market.

In the end, the exploitation of the East Med resources will require a stable region bolstered by U.S. and NATO alliance support that includes naval forces for diplomacy, open economic sea lanes and poised hard power.

Commander Tony Chavez is a navy federal executive fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. A decorated navy aviator, Commander Chavez has served in every U.S. Navy fleet throughout the globe.

Last Edit: Mar 16, 2019 16:44:01 GMT -5 by Ethan / JRyan

By Grace Alone Go I

Ethan / JRyan
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Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Apr 8, 2019 5:56:34 GMT -5

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Post by Ethan / JRyan on Apr 8, 2019 5:56:34 GMT -5

Leviathan Gas Field, Levantine Basin, Mediterranean Sea

Located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea area off the coast of Israel, Leviathan Natural Gas Field was discovered in December 2010. The discovery is situated in 1,645m of water in the Levantine Basin, located approximately 130km west of Haifa, Israel.

At the time of discovery, the Leviathan gas field was the most prominent field ever found in the sub-explored area of the Levantine Basin, which covers about 83,000km² of the eastern Mediterranean region.

The Leviathan field falls within the precinct of the Rachel and Amit licenses. Production is expected to commence in 2017.
Noble Energy obtained approval for the plan of development (POD) from the Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources in June.

The company signed a gas sales and purchase agreement (GSPA) to provide natural gas from the Leviathan field to National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) for a period of 15 years.

Leviathan Partners also signed an agreement with I.P.M. Beer Tuvia in May, for the supply of natural gas from the field.

Partners of Noble Energy with interest in Israel’s Mediterranean field
Houston-based oil and natural gas exploration and production company Noble Energy is the operator of the Leviathan gas field. Its share in the project is 39.66% and it is the company’s largest discovery.

Delek Group subsidiaries Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration have a working interest of 22.67% each in the project. Ratio Oil Exploration is the other stakeholder with 15%.

Geology of the Levantine Basin and recoverable oil and gas reserves
The Levantine geological basin was formed in several main tectonic stages, and early Mesozoic rifting led to the shaping of a large graben and horst system, stretching across the onshore and offshore Levant Basin. The basin is infilled by post-rift tertiary sedimentation.

Reservoirs within the basin mainly contain Mesozoic and Paleogene sandstones, near shore marine and submarine sandstones and Jurassic and Cretaceous shelf-margin carbonates.

The Oligo-Miocene reservoir rocks at Leviathan field are deep-water slope and fan sandstones sealed by sedimentary rocks of the mid to late Miocene age and Messinian age salt. Natural gas at the Leviathan field was found in several sub-salt Miocene intervals.

As per the US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates, the entire Leviathan Basin holds a mean approximation of 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil and a mean of 122 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas.

The Leviathan gas field’s natural gas reserves are estimated to be 18 trillion cubic feet (tcf). Besides natural gas, the field is said to contain 600 million barrels of oil beneath the gas layer.

Exploration and drilling by Noble Energy at the Leviathan field and wells
Noble Energy commenced drilling on the Leviathan-1 well in October 2010 using the Sedco Express deep-water semi-submersible rig, which is owned by Transocean. In the first stage, the well was drilled to a depth of 5,170m. It encountered a minimum of 67m of natural gas pay. The gas was discovered in several sub-salt Miocene intervals.

In the second stage of drilling, the well is intended to touch an additional depth of 2,030m, where the estimated natural gas reserve is expected to reach 25tcf.

In May 2012, drilling operations at the Leviathan-1 well were suspended after reaching a depth of 6,522m, approximately 678m short of the target depth. The suspension took place due to high well pressure and mechanical restrictions of the well-bore design.

Drilling of Leviathan-2 well was started in March 2011 by the Pride North America rig. The drilling operations, however, had to be stopped after detecting a flow of water in the well hole.

Drilling of the Leviathan-3 well commenced in June 2011 and was successfully completed in December of that year. The third well was located approximately 5km east of the original Leviathan discovery and was drilled to a total depth of 5,226m, encountering a minimum of 88m natural gas pay.

Maritime border issues between Lebanon and Israel over the gas field
Lebanon considered the Leviathan and Tamar gas fields to extend into Lebanese territory and claimed Israel was ignoring this fact. Israel retaliated by threatening to use force to protect its gas discoveries.

The rights dispute was resolved in August 2010 when the Lebanese Government presented its official view to the UN, where it stated that the two disputed gas fields, Tamar and Leviathan, did not fall within its territory.

East Mediterranean Development-1: Levant basin presents narrowing resource opportunities

04/06/2015
Shaul Zemach
Independent consultant
Tel-Aviv

Discovery of the Levant basin province in the easternmost Mediterranean has provided an opportunity to modifify traditional political structures in the region. Renewed interest in recoverable resources has enhanced existing alliances, provided incentive for collaboration between political adversaries, and caused the emergence of new sources of conflict.

The first part of this Levant basin series focuses on specific regions, their resource potential, their associated challenges, and the most recent status on development.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) assessed the province for the first time in 2010 and estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable reserves at 122 tcf of natural gas and 1.7 billion bbl of oil and natural gas liquids (OGJ Online, Apr. 8, 2010).

The Levant basin province encompasses 83,000 sq km of the eastern Mediterranean, which is bounded in the east by the Levant transform zone, in the north by the Tartus fault, in the northwest by the Eratosthenes Seamount, in the west and southwest by the Nile Delta Cone Province boundary, and in the south by the limit of compressional structures in the Sinai. In geopolitical terms, the Levant basin province extends from Egypt in the south to Turkey in the north. The basin also is exposed in Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Syria (Fig. 1).

Due to this wide-ranging geographical expanse, many believe the discovery of Levant basin could transform the dynamics in the eastern Mediterranean region, with new political and economic consequences playing out among the various countries within its boundaries.

Geopolitical puzzle
To exploit fully the region's resource potential, new hydrocarbon discoveries in the Levant basin will inevitably require some form of collaboration between neighboring countries in the East Mediterranean. The "Levant basin puzzle" is defined by the interdependence of these states. Without mutual assistance, these countries may find it difficult fully to develop resources within their respective borders or exclusive economic zones.

The USGS's distributed mean of 1.7 billion bbl of undiscovered oil in the Levant basin is within a range of 483-3,759 million bbl. For undiscovered gas, the total mean volume 122 tcf, is within a range of 50-227 tcf. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that USGS estimates of an additional 1.7 billion bbl of oil, if realized, would meet regional demand for roughly 20 years at current levels of consumption, while 122 tcf of natural gas could meet current demand almost indefinitely.1

These basin-wide estimates assume full development of technically recoverable resources; however, geopolitics in the region have eliminated single-unit development. Cooperation is needed to improve field development and operational efficiency. The current status of Levant basin exploration is a narrowing opportunity for its neighboring states, their allies, and their economies.

Country assessments
Potential and proved resources are not equally distributed in the East Mediterranean. Israel's Ministry of Energy estimates volumes of natural gas within the Israeli exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to be 50 tcf.

In a Dec. 19, 2013, interview with Natural Gas Europe, former Lebanese Minister of Energy & Water Gebran Bassil said the country's offshore province could contain up to 96 tcf of natural gas, with 850 million bbl of oil onshore.2

In its analysis of Lebanon, the EIA said that Lebanon's government estimates potential natural gas reserves of 25 tcf or more in its offshore territory. This figure remains speculative until further exploration provides additional data.3

Cypriot officials have estimated that the 13 blocks in the country's EEZ could hold as much as 60 tcf. Other less optimistic estimates hold a 40 tcf reserves basis for the six blocks tendered, including Aphrodite (OGJ Online, Apr. 7, 2014).4

Turkey's recoverable natural gas reserves were close to 211 bcf in 2009, with domestic gas production of about 35.3 bcf/year.5 As of Jan. 1, 2014, Tukey's natural gas reserves rose to 241 bcf (OGJ Online, Jan. 6, 2014). Turkey produced 22 bcf of natural gas in 2012, and the country relied almost exclusively on imports to meet domestic demand.

Despite efforts by state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corp. (TPAO) to intensify gas exploration, Turkey is not expected to take an active supply role in the East Mediterranean. Being a dominant power in the region, however, Turkey's influence will impact future natural-gas-related development in the Levant basin.

The basin's two remaining littoral states, Egypt and Syria, have been too consumed by domestic unrest to generate a coherent response to offshore gas discoveries.6 Yet it would be reasonable to assume that interested parties within those states are planning for future post-crisis arrangements.

In December 2013, Syria signed an agreement with Russian oil and gas company SoyuzNefteGaz Ltd. to prospect jointly for oil off Syria's Mediterranean coast. According to Syrian, Russian, and Iranian state news agencies, the contract is for oil exploration and production in Block 2 of Syria's territorial waters, which stretch from the shore of the coastal city of Tartous to the city of Banyas and covers 2,190 sq km.

SoyuzNefteGaz will reportedly finance the $90 million project in Syria. If test drilling confirms commercial scale reserves of oil and gas, SoyuzNefteGaz will build the necessary infrastructure for development and extraction.

Regional estimates do not adhere to those of the USGS for the Levant basin (Table 1). It is important to note, each of the region's countries' estimates of available resources in their respective EEZs accounts for supply-side parameters as well as future domestic demand, technical export options, target export markets, and pricing.

The character of the relatively small domestic gas markets and the numerous geopolitical, commercial, and regulatory hurdles facing available export options converge as challenges to develop fully East Mediterranean discoveries. This combination also reveals diverging priorities among the region's neighboring states. Potential export markets entail decision making that will include the combination of destinations, technologies, and infrastructure.

Israel
With more than 31 tcf of estimated natural gas and a stable flow of domestic supply, the state of Israel plays a leading role in future developments of the Levant basin.

Israel has two large offshore hydrocarbon structures. Tamar field, discovered at the end of 2009 and holding an estimated 10.59 tcf in place, began producing commercially in March 2013. The second, Leviathan field, was discovered at the end of 2010. Assessments of the Leviathan field indicate there could be as much as 22 tcf of recoverable natural gas in place (OGJ Online, Sept. 4, 2014). Exploration over the past several years uncovered additional, smaller fields.

Partners in Tamar field include Noble Energy Inc. (36%), Isramco Ltd. (28.75%), Delek Group Ltd. units Delek Drilling LP and Avner Oil and Gas LP (15.625% each), and Alon Natural Gas Exploration Ltd. (4%).

Partners for Leviathan field include Noble Energy Inc. (39.66%), Delek Drilling LP and Avner Oil and Gas LP (22.67% each), and Ratio Oil Exploration (1992) LP (15%).

Recently, the Israeli Anti-Trust Commissioner announced interest in taking regulatory action against Noble Energy and Delek group due to their perceived dominance of Israel's energy market. After an initial period of uncertainty, the government of Israel has approved its natural gas export policy. The plan gives the priority to domestic supplies of natural gas and imposes limitations on petroleum rights holders' market flexibility while providing some natural gas for export.7 Stakeholders are examining potential export destinations.

Primary technological approaches include LNG (floating or land-based) and large-scale, regional offshore pipelines. Some consideration has been given to an onshore LNG plant in Israel; however, the government continues to question the viability of this option. Floating LNG (FLNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) transport are also under consideration for Israeli exports to small, nearby markets, but the commercial viability of CNG technology for this region is uncertain.

Levant basin development may be assisted through large-scale pipelines to Turkey, Greece (via Cyprus), and possibly to Egypt's existing, under-utilized facilities. In some cases, these two approaches could be merged.

In the case of an offshore pipeline to Egypt, the flow of Israeli gas would offset Egypt's former export volumes to Europe that were redirected for domestic supply. This alternative would use unused liquefaction trains in Egypt. Negotiations with BG Group and Union Fenosa Gas SA are ongoing.

Partners for Israel's Tamar field have signed a letter of intent with Union Fenosa to export 159 bcf of gas over 15 years to the Damietta LNG plants in Egypt. Leviathan field partners have agreed to supply BG Egypt with 247.2 bcf/year of natural gas over 15 years at its Idku LNG plants.

Smaller volumes of exports are planned for Jordan-based customers Arab Potash Co. and Jordan Bromine Co. Under terms of the agreement, Noble Energy's subsidiary will supply 63.6 bcf of natural gas from the Tamar field off Israel to both companies for use in their plants near the Dead Sea. Natural gas sales will start in 2016 following completion of minimal pipeline installations.

The Leviathan partners also signed an agreement with Palestine Power Generation Co. PLC (PPGC). Plans call for construction of a power plant at the north end of the West Bank to supply electricity to the Palestinian authority. Leviathan's operators will supply PPCG with as much as 167.7 bcf (total) of natural gas for up to 20 years.

On Sept. 3, 2014, Noble Energy Mediterranean Ltd. signed a letter of intent with the Jordanian National Electric Power Co. Ltd. to negotiate a 15-year gas supply contract from Leviathan for up to 1,589 bcf.

Cyprus
Appraisals of Noble Energy's Aphrodite discovery in Cyprus in late 2011 in deepwater Block 12 indicate gross mean reserves of 5 tcf, with a range of 3.6-6.0 tcf. Cyprus's domestic market will consume some of this gas, particularly for power generation for which it will replace expensive fuel oil and gas oil, but the bulk will need to be sold in international markets to justify the expense of developing the field and building a gas pipeline to shore.

Block 12 was awarded to Noble Energy during the first licensing round in 2007. Blocks 2, 3, and 9 were awarded to partners Eni SPA and Korea Gas Corp. (KOGAS), and Blocks 10 and 11 were awarded to Total SA in the second round. All blocks were awarded as production sharing contracts.

Cyprus intends to export natural gas from the Aphrodite field by 2020, with a planned LNG plant near Vasilikos on Cyprus's southern coast about 25 km east of Limassol. Noble Energy and its partner in Block 12, Israel's Delek Group, signed an agreement with the Cyprus government in June 2012 to develop the Vasilikos liquefaction plant. Its first phase includes three 5-million tonne/year (tpy) liquefaction trains to be fed by natural gas from Israel's Leviathan field. Cypriot Natural Gas Public Co. (DEFA) estimates the plant will cost $10 billion.8

On Dec. 19, 2014, Cyprus's Energy Ministry reported that the Onasagoras prospect in Block 9 was drilled to 19,000 ft (Eni-KOGAS consortium) and failed to find commercial quantities of natural gas.

Eni is moving 55 km to its next Block 9 target, Amathusa field, where preliminary data suggest the geological probability for natural gas is lower than for Onasagoras.

Total recently completed geological surveys of Blocks 10 and 11 without finding any potential drilling targets. According to Cyprus media, the Ministry of Energy defined the possibility of coming to an arrangement with French operator Total as "remote."9

In September 2012, DEFA announced interest in finding an intermediate solution for the supply of natural gas to its Vasilikos power station. A delegation from Cyprus, led by Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, who is in charge of energy affairs, visited Israel to discuss the possibility of a bilateral agreement on natural gas supply. Both Israel and Cyprus expressed their willingness to find a solution. Discussion centered on economies of scale, joint development of export facilities, and finding an interim solution for Cyprus's demand.

DEFA continued to seek a commercial agreement for the urgent supply of 3-5 years of natural gas. The power company's supply options included CNG and LNG via floating storage and regasification.

DEFA announced in 2014 an invitation for an open competition to supply natural gas to Vasilikos for up to 10 years commencing Jan. 1, 2016. Interested parties submitted proposals substantially to reduce electric generation costs through yearend 2018, providing a complete solution covering all commercial and infrastructure needs, including sourcing, transportation-shipping, and processing.

Cyprus's strategic plan is to become the East Mediterranean hub for hydrocarbon resources by incorporating domestic gas from Aphrodite with resources produced off Israel as feedstock for the Vasilikos liquefaction plant.10

The country's Aphrodite field contains an estimated 141 bcf of gas, which includes additional sites within the Aphrodite license. It is currently facing difficulties due to an imbalance with Israeli gas quantities. Israel is also determined to keep exports under its own control.

As a consequence, Cypriot officials and Noble Energy have made export lines to Egypt a priority, with FLNG and CNG under consideration as close alternatives.

Cyprus took further steps Nov. 28, 2014, when it signed a joint declaration with Egypt and the Hellenic Republic. Ministers from these three governments established a framework for tripartite talks on cooperation in hydrocarbon resource development. The trilateral partnership is examining ways and means for the optimal development of regional resources.11

Turkey
EIA has estimated that Turkey's energy consumption will double in the next decade. In fact, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast Turkey will likely see the fastest medium to long-term growth in energy demand among its member countries.

Turkey holds a strategic role in natural gas transit because of its geographical placement between continental Europe, the world's second-largest gas market, and the vast natural gas reserves of the Caspian basin and the Middle East.

The share of natural gas in Turkey's total primary energy supply increased to 32% in 2012. Turkey's gas demand increased to 1,599.8 bcf in 2012, up from 24.7 bcf in 1987. Indigenous natural gas production totaled 22.3 bcf in 2012. The transportation sector was the largest consumer of natural gas in 2011 at about 48% of the country's total gas consumption.12

Turkey's energy demand growth was among the fastest in the world in 2010 and 2011, although slower economic growth in 2012 dampened natural gas consumption growth to some extent. According to the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (ETKB), between 1990 and 2008 the country's average rate of increase in primary energy demand was 4.3%/year. Among other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, Turkey has had the highest rate of energy demand increase of the past 10 years. Projections by the Ministry show this trend will continue in the medium run.

In 2008, total primary energy consumption was 106.3 million petroleum ton equivalent (TEP), while production was at 29.2 million TEP. Of total energy supply, natural gas was largest (32%), followed by petroleum (29.9%), coal (29.5%), and renewable energy sources including hydraulic (8.6%). The baseline scenario has primary energy consumption increasing 4%/year by 2020. Forecasts for Turkey's natural gas demand by 2030 are 2,698-2,959.4 bcf.13

Secure energy supply remains essential to the Turkish economy. Recent progress includes restructuring the Turkish energy market toward more transparent competition, identifying and using domestic and renewable resource potentials, making nuclear energy a part of electricity production, and pursuing energy efficiency and new energy technologies.

ETKB established Turkey's energy policy with the principal aims of:

• Making energy available for consumers in terms of cost, time, and abundance.
• Exploiting public and private facilities within the framework of free market practices.
• Discouraging import dependency.
• Securing a strong position for Turkey in regional and global trade of energy.
• Ensuring the availability of diversified resources, routes, and technologies.
• Ensuring maximum use of renewable resources.
• Increasing energy efficiency.

Russia was the largest supplier to Turkey, representing 58% of total imports in 2012. Turkey has four international gas pipelines in operation with a total import capacity of 1,645.6 bcf and plans to diversify natural gas imports further with new major cross-border pipelines and LNG terminals.14

Turkey receives imports from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. Through the TANAP project, the country is set to increase its Azeri intake via a pipeline from Azerbaijan in addition to the South Caucasus pipeline.15

Besides Turkey's being a rapidly growing consumer, its role as an energy transit hub is increasingly important. Turkey is a key part of oil and natural gas supplies movement from Russia, the Caspian region, and the Middle East to Europe. Although the Turkish government formally supports developing the country as a natural gas export hub, Turkey is extremely vulnerable to supply disruptions and may have insufficient pipeline capacity to keep pace with both greater exports and increasing domestic demand.16

Key elements of Turkey's overall gas security policy are to diversify its long-term supply portfolio and to form an energy hub from Central Asia and the Middle East to Europe.14

With a view toward meeting its increasing demand, making sufficient energy-sector investments, and increasing economic efficiency, Turkey launched an initiative after 2000 to increase competition in the energy sector. Within this context, the following legislation was passed:

• Electricity Market Law (2001).
• Natural Gas Market Law (2001).
• Petroleum Market Law (2003).
• LPG Market Law (2005).
• Law on Utilization of Renewable Energy Resources for the Purpose of Generating Electrical Energy (2005).
• Energy Efficiency Law (2007).
• Law on Geothermal Resources and Mineral Waters (2007).
• Law on Construction and Operation of Nuclear Power Plants and Energy Sale (2007). This law also introduced regulations regarding use of domestic coal resources for the purpose of generating electrical energy, encouraging the establishment of domestic coal-fired thermal power plants.
• Law on the Amendment of Electricity Market Law No. 5784 on Supply Security (2008). In its long-term planning work, the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources expects to achieve the following targets by 2023:
• Make complete use of potential indigenous coal and hydraulic resources.
• Maximize use of renewable resources.
• Incorporate nuclear energy into electricity generation by 2020.
• Secure rapid and continuous improvement in energy efficiency in a way that parallels EU countries.

The Ministry of Energy's working plan consists of three pillars (natural gas, coal, and hydraulic), with renewable resources and nuclear energy also included. Turkey further continues to attach importance to development of its domestic hydrocarbons.

For meeting the increasing European demand for natural gas, Turkey attaches strategic importance to ensuring that projects for transferring resources to Europe pass through the Turkish territorial control zones. This preserves the policy of making Turkey a natural gas trade hub in the medium and long term. In its Strategic Plan 2010-14, the Turkish administration emphasized the need to increase energy supply security by diversifying the country's resources, routes, and technologies.15 17

Lebanon
In May 2013, the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water launched the first licensing round for offshore oil and gas exploration, opening up bidding for 5 out of 10 offshore blocks. Per the requirements set forth by Lebanon's Peteroleum Administration (PA), interested companies were prequalified, with submissions from 52 operators from 25 countries.

Out of these applicants, 12 were prequalified as rightsholder operators and 34 as rights-holder nonoperators (Table 2). Per Lebanon's Offshore Petroleum Resources Law, companies must form consortia of at least three with one acting as operator. Lebanon's first offshore licensing round was announced with a submission deadline of Apr. 10, 2014, extended to Aug. 14, 2014. The Lebanese cabinet, however, has delayed issuing decrees delineating offshore blocks and has also stalled in providing a model exploration and production agreement.

On Aug. 8, 2014, the Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water announced that the deadline for bid submission was suspended indefinitely to a maximum period of 6 months from the date of the adoption of the two decrees related to block delineation and tender protocol.18

Five of 10 offshore blocks are open for bidding (Blocks 1, 4, 5, 6, and 9). Additional blocks may be opened after Lebanon's government ratifies the necessary decrees.

Future success
As demonstrated by activity within the last 5 years, the Levant basin presents ample opportunities for many countries with access to its resources. While many of these countries are preparing to explore Levant basin's potential, problems surround successful development of the area.

The follow up to this first installment will discuss probable outcomes and potential solutions.

Last Edit: Apr 8, 2019 6:16:00 GMT -5 by Ethan / JRyan

By Grace Alone Go I

Ethan / JRyan
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Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Apr 8, 2019 6:07:19 GMT -5 ccrc79 likes this

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Post by Ethan / JRyan on Apr 8, 2019 6:07:19 GMT -5

Israel expands offshore exploration opportunities
04/01/2019
Michael Gardosh
Elad Golan
Shachaf Lippman
Israel Ministry of Energy

Israel launched its second offshore licensing round in late 2018 in hopes of attracting international investors capable of finding oil and natural gas resources to rival or surpass previous discoveries.

The second offshore round offered new terms, including bigger acreage units than Israel’s first offshore bid round in 2016. Operators of the first-round licenses are expected to start drilling in 2019. That first offshore bid round involved 24 blocks of up to 400 sq km each.

The second round built on the growing regional importance of the East Mediterranean as a hydrocarbon province, including Tamar, Leviathan, Karish, and Tanin fields.

Fig. 1 shows how 19 blocks were grouped into five zones covering areas ranging between 1,085 sq km (Zone E) to 1,600 sq km (Zone A). All zones are in Israel’s central and southern economic waters, an area previously licensed and surveyed.

Bids will be submitted for zones rather than individual blocks. These larger areas will allow for more effective subsurface analysis and increased resource potential. The second round offers both identified leads and prospects yet to be drilled, including extensions of established plays and acreage featuring deeper targets and stratigraphic traps. Advances in seismic processing, analysis, and interpretation are expected to help operators tap resources.

The deadline for bid submission is June with winners expected to be announced in July.

Recognizing regional competition for finding oil and gas, Israel offers investors’ favorable geologic conditions, large prospective resources, proven success, and stable economic growth.

Fig. 2 shows how the entire Eastern Mediterranean has become an exploration hot spot, driven by Israeli gas as well as other discoveries such as Zohr field offshore Egypt and Calypso field offshore Cyprus.

On Feb. 28, ExxonMobil Corp. announced a gas discovery offshore Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean on Block 10. The Glaucus-1 well cut 436 ft of reservoir rock. Evaluation of the potential of Block 10 continues.

EXISTING FIELDS
Israel has imported oil and gas since 1948. Discoveries in several small onshore fields have not altered the need for imports. In 1999, exploration activity shifted offshore, yielding 10 gas discoveries starting with Noa and Mari B fields.

Noble Energy Inc. of Houston discovered most of the 30 tcf in offshore resources along with its Israeli partners, Delek Drilling, Isramco Inc., and Ratio Oil Explorations. Noble operates giant deepwater Tamar and Leviathan fields.

Earlier this year, Noble signed agreements to sell 1.13 tcf of gas each from Leviathan and Tamar to Dolphinus Holdings Ltd., a consortium in Egypt involved in supplying gas for industrial and private consumers.

Discovered in 2010, Leviathan’s recoverable resources total an estimated 17.6 tcf. Noble Energy is developing Leviathan with a subsea system and fixed offshore platform. Gas sales from Leviathan are expected to begin in late 2019. The Leviathan system has a designed production capacity of up to 1.2 bcfd.

Mari B gas began arriving onshore in 2004. Tamar field, which provides enough gas for all of Israel’s current domestic consumption, was connected to the Israeli grid in 2013 in a fast-track development that took less than 3 years.

Karish field in Israel’s northern exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is scheduled to start production in 2021 using a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) 90 km offshore, the Eastern Mediterranean’s first FPSO.

The Israeli Petroleum Commissioner already awarded two production leases and five exploration licenses in the East Mediterranean to Energean and its subsidiaries. Energean plans to develop the Tanin field after the development of the Karish field. Karish, discovered in 2013, and Tanin, discovered in 2011, are about 40 km apart.

Energean holds five of six licenses issued in Israel’s first offshore round. Previously, Energean bought Karish and Tanin fields from Noble Energy and Delek Drillings. Four Indian companies, led by ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL), share one license awarded during the first offshore round.

POTENTIAL DISCOVERIES
BEICEP-FranLab consulting group submitted a 2015 study to the Ministry of Energy, estimating yet-to-find (P50) 75 tcf of gas in place and 6.6 billion bbl original oil in place within Israeli economic waters. This confirmed US Geological Survey estimates.

The study demonstrated widespread potential for dry gas, wet gas, condensate, and oil. It emphasized the existence of two major petroleum systems in the offshore Levant basin.

A biogenic system characterizes the shallower strata of Oligo-Miocene and Pliocene age. Dry gas discoveries in Leviathan, Tamar, Karish, Mari B, and other offshore gas fields have proved this system’s effectiveness.

A thermogenic petroleum system exists in deeper Mesozoic strata. Modeling done in 2D and 3D domains shows high thermal maturity below 5-6 km. Geologists believe Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks are within the oil and gas windows.

Very light oil shows found in several wells have been associated with this system, which is capped by low permeability layers and remains largely untested by drilling.

The second offshore bid round’s zones include several types of structural and stratigraphic traps likely charged by gas and oil from the two petroleum systems. Oligo-Miocene turbidte sandstone, the reservoir rock where most of the gas was found so far offshore Israel, was identified in the bid round’s central and western sections.

Large Syrian Arc-type fold structures characterize the eastern part of the bid area where oil might be found in Jurassic fractured carbonates and Cretaceous turbidite sands. The bid zone also includes a large basement high likely capped by a Cretaceous carbonate buildup, similar in its structure to recently discovered large gas fields in Egypt and Cyprus. Extensive 2D and 3D seismic information exists for the bid area.

BID TERMS
The Ministry of Energy sought to offer more attractive bid terms in the second offshore bid round. License holders have 3 years to complete exploration commitments. They must decide within 2 years where to relinquish licenses or commit to drilling a well. A second drill-or-drop decision will be required after 5 years. Israeli Petroleum law sets 7 years as the maximum time for drill-or-drop.

This 3+2+2 timetable provides operators both time to study the area and flexibility in financial commitments associated with drilling wells in as much as 1,700 m of water.

Another incentive is an enhanced data package that includes all available 3D seismic data in the bidding area and a description of potential targets with volumetric and risk assessments.

Israel manages offshore petroleum rights under a royalty and tax fiscal regime. Royalties are 12.5% of market value at the wellhead and the corporate tax is 23%. Regulators calculate an oil and gas profits levy using a progressive formula after operators get 150% return on investment.

Israel’s overall government take is 52-62%, which is lower than Norway and Egypt.

Israel recently updated its export policy, allowing for export of 100% of gas discovered in a field as large as1.76 tcf. The supply obligation to Israel’s domestic market is 50% for additional gas fields of 1.76-7 tcf.

MARKET POTENTIAL
Israel’s population of 8.5 million now consumes 0.4 tcf/year but is estimated to consume nearly 1 tcf/year by 2042.

Meanwhile, Israel is promoting export opportunities. Agreements already signed that call for gas exports to begin in 2019-20 include a $12 billion export deal with Jordan and a$15 billion export deal with Egypt.

The Energy Commission of the European Union is considering the Eastern Mediterranean in its search for alternative gas sources to the maturing North Sea.

In 2017, energy ministers from Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy signed memorandums of understanding for a 1,900-km gas pipeline connecting Israel’s Leviathan field, Cyprus’ Aphrodite gas field, and other Eastern Mediterranean fields to mainland Greece and Italy through the waters of Cyprus and Crete.

European Commission-sponsored feasibility studies confirm the EastMed pipeline as technically feasible and economically viable. The EastMed would be the longest and deepest subsea system worldwide.

The pipeline is designed to initially transport 0.35 tcf/year and ultimately 0.7 tcf/year.

IGI Poseidon SA issued a front-end engineering and design tender notice for the subsea pipeline and compressor stations in mid-2018. In September 2018, energy ministers from Israel, Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia met in Greece to discuss expanding EastMed to the Balkan countries. Final agreements between the participating countries and the EU are expected to be signed during 2019.

ENERGY POLICY
Israel’s domestic energy demand will increase significantly in coming years as Israel moves to cleaner fuels for power generation and transportation as its population grows. In 2040, 13 million people are expected to live in Israel, making it among the most crowded western hemisphere nations. The number of vehicles is estimated at 6.4 million in 2040 and electricity demand will double. Given this, Israel is promoting several programs to reduce pollution and increase gas use.

Israel has had the second most rapid growth of natural gas use in the world, following Peru. Coal-generated power accounted for 30% of Israel’s power in 2018 compared with 60% in 2015.

The Ministry of Energy’s goal is to reach 83% use of gas and 17% renewables for electric generation by 2030, closing all coal plants. Gas is to supply 95% of the energy needed for industrial demand by 2030. Transportation plans call for a gradual transfer to electric cars and natural gas trucks with a ban on imports of gasoline cars starting in 2030. These plans are expected to reduce Israeli air pollution by 60%.

The authors
Michael Gardosh (mikig@energy.gov.il) has directed the Israeli Ministry of Energy’s Geology, Geophysics and Information Department since 2010. He promotes oil and gas exploration activity offshore and onshore Israel. He holds a MSc in geology (1987) from Hebrew University and a PhD in Geophysics (2002) from Tel Aviv University. He previously worked in the Geophysical Institute of Israel and the Israel National Oil Co., where he studied the geology and petroleum systems of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Elad Golan (eladg@energy.gov.il) directs the Israel Ministry of Energy’s Natural Resources Administration Regulation Department. He supervises upstream oil and gas regulation. Previously, he worked as a legal advisor in the Israel Ministry of Energy, and in the private sector. He earned an LLB (2011), LLM (2014), and MBA (2018) from the Hebrew University.

Shachaf Lippman (shachafl@energy.gov.il) has worked as a senior geophysicist with the Israeli Ministry of Energy’s Geology, Geophysics, and Information Department since 2014. His work involves geophysical interpretation and supervision of exploration programs. He previously worked as a seismic processing geophysicist for Geomage Ltd and as an exploration geophysicist for Adira Energy. He earned a MSc (2010) in marine geoscience from Haifa University and BSc in geophysics and geography from Tel Aviv University (2007).

The impotrant part for me is this:

We are being told that Israel has no oil, Zion Oil is a scam, Givot was a failure, Genie did not find anything. Look right there, known OIL fields!

Look Squirrel?

We are being played. Do your own research. There is oil there but the amount is unknown and its commericiality is also unknown. What is known is that Israel is hated, Zion Oil and Gas is also hated, we are hated. We are hated for His namesake. If He doesn't want the oil to be found, then I am ok with it. In the meantime, you will see the same game played by those who hate Zion Oil and Israel.

By Grace Alone Go I

Deb Guest	Levant Basin & Possible Reserves & Area Information Oct 31, 2020 13:30:58 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Deb on Oct 31, 2020 13:30:58 GMT -5 Nicely put. With thanks. Best Essay writing who needs editing

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Ethan / JRyan: Remember, Life is but a short time. Eternity is what actually counts. These are strange days for all, especially the nation of Israel. The well is but a blip in the big picture. Pray the Ancient of Days spares us in the coming weeks... Aug 9, 2024 14:06:42 GMT -5

Ethan / JRyan: Well it is getting more insane now......Pray for peace, the search for oil can wait. Oct 3, 2024 7:00:06 GMT -5

Ethan / JRyan: Why the rise on no news? Nice but odd don't ya think? Nov 8, 2024 10:00:37 GMT -5

Ethan / JRyan: What a nice day but look at the volume? WOW Nov 14, 2024 15:22:15 GMT -5

Ethan / JRyan: Clueless as to why but not complaining.......Amazing really. Still a HUGE risk. Nov 19, 2024 10:32:59 GMT -5