Noble Energy has targeted an early 2018 start-up date for its giant Leviathan gas field off Israel, according to its 3Q earnings statement. In addition, the Houston-based independent received government approval for a gas delivery point for the field in the northern part of Israel.
In September, Noble Energy and its partners submitted an initial development plan to Israel’s Ministry of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Resources. At the time, Reuters placed the value of the plan at US6.5 billion. Noble Energy says now that the initial phase will include to include an FPSO with a capacity of 1.6Bcf/d. The FPSO will be at 75% total capacity when sales begin in early 2018.
The Leviathan field, located around 130km from Israel’s coast in around 1600m of water, is one of the largest offshore discoveries in the past decade, and represents Houston-based operator Noble Energy’s largest discovery to date. In July, Netherland Sewall & Associates bumped the high reserves’ estimate up to just under 22Tcf of natural gas from almost 19Tcf.
In September, Noble Energy secured a letter of intent to supply Jordan’s National Electric Power Co. with a base gross quantity of 1.6Tcf of natural gas over a 15-year term, with sales volumes beginning at a rate of 300Mcf/d. This follows agreements with BG Group and Palestine Power Generation Co. for 15 and 20-year periods, respectively.
Operator Noble Energy operates Leviathan (39.66%). Its partners in consortium are Delek Drilling (22.67%), Avner Oil Exploration with 22.67%, and Ratio Oil Exploration (15%).
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Noble Energy, partners submit Leviathan development plan