The natural gas reserves in the Leviathan structure total 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, based on preliminary results of the production tests received in the past few days. This was same amount estimated from a recent 3D seismic survey. The quantity found is double the gas reserves at Tamar. The results were reported Wednesday by Noble Energy Inc., which owns 39.66% of the prospect.
According to Noble Energy, "The well encountered a minimum of 220 feet
(67 meters) of net natural gas pay in several subsalt Miocene intervals.
Apparent reservoir quality is very good, and the intervals discovered
are geologically similar to those intersected at Tamar."
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Noble Energy CEO Charles Davidson said, "Leviathan is the latest major
discovery for Noble Energy and is easily the largest exploration
discovery in our history."
Noble Energy president and COO David L. Stover added, "This discovery
has the potential to position Israel as a natural gas exporting nation.
For nearly a year now, we have had a team evaluating market
possibilities, which includes various pipeline and LNG options. It's our
belief that the natural gas resources at Leviathan are sufficient to
support one or more of the options being studied. We are excited to be
leading the exploration and development in this new basin and look
forward to determining the best development option."
Leviathan's Israeli partners are Delek Group Ltd. units Avner Oil and
Gas LP and Delek Drilling LP (22.67% each), and Ratio Oil Exploration
(1992) LP with 15%.
The results are from the electrical log tests, which were completed
yesterday. The results almost precisely match the estimated announced on
June 2, based on the 3D seismic survey. They come exactly one month
after the Israeli partners reported signs of natural gas in the first
target strata at a depth of 5,100 meters.
The drilling of the Leviathan 1 exploratory well was delayed by several
weeks, which added at least $20 million to the drilling costs. The
original estimate cost of the well was $150 million, and the cost of
leasing the Sedco Express drilling platform from Transocean Inc. is more
than $1 million a day.
Trading in the shares of the Israeli partners in Leviathan was suspended
just before 2 pm today ahead of an "important announcement". Shares in
the three partnerships rose by over 4% before trading was suspended.
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