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Leviathan gas field

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Leviathan gas field
CountryIsrael
LocationLevantine basin
Eastern Mediterranean Sea
BlockRachel licence
Offshore/onshoreoffshore
OperatorNoble Energy
PartnersAvner Oil and Gas (22.67%)
Delek Drilling (22.67%)
Ratio Oil Exploration (15%)
Noble Energy (39.66%)
Field history
DiscoveryJune 2010
Start of production2015-2017 (expected)
Production
Estimated gas in place450×10^9 m3
16×10^12 cu ft

The Leviathan gas field is a large natural gas field located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel, discovered in June 2010. The gas field is located roughly 130 kilometres (81 mi) west of Haifa in waters 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) deep in the Levantine basin, a rich hydrocarbon area in one of the world’s largest offshore gas finds of the past decade.[1][2] (AFP) [3] [4].

History

The first well, Leviathan 1, was first drilled to a depth of 5,170 metres (16,960 ft) where the deposits contained 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas or 450 billion cubic meters.[5] The second stage of drilling of the Leviathan 1 well is intended to reach a depth of 7,200 metres (23,600 ft) where the estimated natural gas reserve is an additional 9 trillion cubic feet or 253 billion cubic meters.[5] Alongside natural gas the Leviathan gas field is believed to possibly contain 4.2 billion barrels of oil.[6]

At the time of discovery, the Leviathan gas field was the largest find ever discovered in the under-explored area of the Mediterranean Sea and the largest discovery in the history of Noble Energy. Noble Energy operates Leviathan with a 39.66% working interest; Isramco Negev 2 holds 28.75%; Delek Drilling holds 22.67%; Avner Oil Exploration holds 22.67%; and Ratio Oil Exploration holds the remaining 15%.[2] The Leviathan gas field is located 47 kilometres (29 mi) south-west of another large gas reserve, namely the Tamar gas field which was discovered in 2009 and also operated by Noble Energy.[5]

Rights dispute

Lebanon initially argued that the field extends into Lebanese waters. Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stated that Israel is “ignoring the fact that according to the maps the deposit extends into Lebanese waters,” Agence France-Presse reported on June 9.[7] Minister of National Infrastructures Uzi Landau responded “We will not hesitate to use our force and strength to protect not only the rule of law but the international maritime law,” in an interview. Robbie Sable, a professor of international law at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, has stated that the claim may be complex due to Lebanon's border with Israel being indented, making it harder to establish where Israel’s sea boundary ends and Lebanese waters begin.[7]

In August 2010, Lebanon submitted to the United Nations its version of where the maritime border should be, a proposal that did not include the Tamar and Leviathan gas prospects.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gas Field Confirmed Off Coast of Israel". New York Times. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Noble CEO: Leviathan is largest gas find in our history". Jerusalem Post. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ http://www.france24.com/en/20101229-israel-has-enough-gas-become-exporter
  4. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/map-locating-gas-fields-which-Israel-hopes-deliver-energy-sufficiency-gas/photo//101229/photos_bs_afp/be382bd28b81ec4198fc065429098608//s:/afp/20101229/wl_mideast_afp/israelusenergygasleviathan
  5. ^ a b c "Noble Energy announces significant discovery at Leviathan offshore Israel". Offshore Energy Today. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Leviathan Gas Field Could Bring Catastrophe or Opportunity to Israel-Lebanon-Cyprus Borders". Fast Company. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  7. ^ a b Jonathan Ferziger and David Wainer (June 24, 2010). "Landau Says Israel Could Use Force to Shield Gas Find". businessweek. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  8. ^ [1]

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