Oil and gas company Energean plc said Wednesday it had started gas production at its Karish gas field in the Mediterranean Sea, offshore Israel.
"Gas is being produced from the Karish Main-02 well and the flow of gas is being steadily ramped up. Preparation for transmission through the gas sales pipeline is progressing and gas sales to Energean’s customers are expected to commence in the next couple of days," Energean said.
Karish Main-01 and Karish Main-03 wells are expected to be opened in about two and four weeks, respectively.
The maximum amount of gas that can go through the Energean Power FPSO and the sales gas pipeline in a year is 8 bcm/yr.
The initial capacity is up to 6.5 bcm/yr, and commercial gas sales are expected to reach this level four to six months after the first gas.
Energean’s growth projects – the Karish North development, the second oil train, and the second export riser – are on track for completion in late 2023, following which Energean will be able to produce to the full 8 bcm/yr capacity of its infrastructure, the company said.
Mathios Rigas, Chief Executive Officer of Energean, said:"I am delighted to confirm that Energean has reached first gas at the Karish field, offshore Israel. We have delivered a landmark project that brings competition to the Israeli gas market, enhances security of energy supply in the East Med region and brings affordable and clean energy that will displace coal-fired power generation, making a material impact to the environment.
"We are committed to reaching our medium-term targets of 200 kboed production and $1.75 billion of annualized EBITDAX and the delivery of the Karish project is a major milestone towards this goal. We are now focused on ramping up production and delivering the full 8 bcm capacity through our expansion project to the Energean Power FPSO.”
Israel's Minister of Energy, Karine Elharar said: "The production will contribute significantly to supplying the needs of the local sector and to uphold Israel's international commitments."
The Energean Power FPSO is moored 80 kilometers west of Israel's coast. It is the third production unit offshore Israel after the Tamar and Leviathan platforms.
"With natural gas flowing from three different independent sources for the first time in history, its operation will significantly and immediately augment the redundancy of supply and energy security of the State of Israel.
The expected supply of natural gas from "Karish" has already helped to increase competition, allowing all customers to choose the supplier most appropriate to them and, of course, stimulating a significant price reduction in the sector," Israel's Energy Ministry said in a statement.
The natural gas will flow to the FPSO from the wells located 1,700 meters underwater and at an underground depth of 3-4 kilometers through an underwater pipeline in which it will be treated .Following that, the natural gas will continue to flow into the National Transmission System to be distributed to consumers throughout the country, the ministry said.
"The connection of the "Karish" gas rig strengthens Israel as a significant supplier of natural gas, and will make it possible to increase the export of natural gas to Egypt and Jordan, as well as countries in Europe that are in need for additional natural gas source's due to the global energy crisis," the ministry said.