Lebanon's Oil and Gas - Updates and Discussion

[Jo]

Turkey on Tuesday urged Egypt and Lebanon to delay oil and gas exploration deals with Cyprus, saying the agreement infringed the rights of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot statelet on the divided island.

The self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) " also has rights and jurisdiction over the seas surrounding the island," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

" The Greek Cypriot administration does not represent the whole of the island. For this reason, we deem the agreements they signed invalid," it added.

Turkey also has " legitimate and legal rights and interests" in the region, the statement said.

" Turkey is determined to protect its rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and will not allow attempts that would erode them," it said.

The internationally-recognised Cypriot government in the Greek-populated south of the island signed an agreement with Lebanon on January 17 for the delineation of an undersea border to facilitate future oil and gas exploration.

Similar accords were struck with Egypt last year.

Turkey has asked both Egypt and Lebanon to put the agreements on hold, the ministry statement said.

" We remind countries or companies that might be interested in oil and gas exploration to take into consideration the will of the Turkish Cypriots and not take any initiatives that would adversely affect the resolution of the Cyprus issue," it said.

The deals with Egypt and Lebanon also angered Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who warned last week of heightened tensions if potential offshore oil and gas deposits were not jointly exploited by both communities.

Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkey seized its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered Greek Cypriot coup in Nicosia aimed at uniting the island with Greece.

AFP

 

[Dry Ice]

31-1-07

Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardes described the announcement made by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding Cyprus’ intentions to proceed with the exploration and exploitation of possible oil reserves in its exclusive economic zone, as ``a flagrant threat against Cyprus, Lebanon and Egypt``.

“Today’s written statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding the decision of the Cyprus government to start procedures for oil or natural gas extraction in its exclusive economic zone, constitutes not only an unacceptable provocation, but also a flagrant threat against Cyprus, Lebanon and Egypt as well as against peace and stability in the area”, Pashiardes stresses.

In a written statement issued this afternoon, the Spokesman points out that “Turkey’s demands to assert rights and interests regarding the oil and natural gas reserves at the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus are not backed by the international law or the international rules”.

Pashiardes says that “the illegal administrations of the pseudostate (in Turkish occupied Cyprus) are not legitimized to have a say in an issue that is only on the legal Cypriot government to decide”.

“The solution of the Cyprus problem, an issue that is mentioned in the Turkish FM’s statement, does not depend on the oil or natural gas extraction, but on the good intentions and political will of the involved parties”, he says.

Pashiardes adds that the Turkish side has to prove in deeds its good intention and political will “and not resort to its favorite method of blackmailing and threatening”.

The Republic of Cyprus has signed agreements with Egypt and Lebanon regarding the boundaries of their exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in its statement that “the countries and companies, which think of launching oil and natural gas exploration under null and void licenses to be given by the Greek Cypriot administration, should take into consideration the sensitivity of the situation and will of Turkish Cypriots who are the other founder nation on the island”.

“These countries and companies should not launch any initiatives that may have a negative impact on settlement of Cyprus problem”, the MFA said.

The Republic of Cyprus is an EU member state since 2004. Cyprus is occupied since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied one third of its territory.

Turkey is the only country in the world not to recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

Cyprus News Agency

 

[Dry Ice]

What struck me most in this story is that Lebanon is in advanced talks in order to explore its offshore oil and gas capacity while very little is reportedly discussed in the media about such a move.

 

[barid]

What struck me most in this story is that Lebanon is in advanced talks in order to explore its offshore oil and gas capacity while very little is reportedly discussed in the media about such a move.

That is starnge indeed.
IMO this can explain a lot about what is happening in Lebanon ==> OIL control

 

[superduper703]

I wonder what the exact agreement is about. The communiqué does not say. If Lebanon is involved in the exploration and eventual production, then I would have to guess that somebody in the government is going to profit (as usual).

 

[Dry Ice]

That is starnge indeed.
IMO this can explain a lot about what is happening in Lebanon ==> OIL control

Well let's not push it too far but I believe that concerning those offshore fields, there is more info to reveal than what's being transpired.

 

[taifoon]

We have got the Syrian birdflue, israeli cancer, saudi syfilis, palestinian plague, iranian polio, egyptian diphtheria, american ebola and french cholera..and Siniora.. Ba3ed na2'esna a turkish parkinsons to hit bingo with our cocktail of misfortunes in this life..

Can we just pass this one over Dry? I think our government will just have to put the turks on hold and ask them to stand in line, until their turn comes and we find ourselves some extra time to deal with their arrogance apropriatly. I am sure Siniora will teach the turkish foreign minister few lessons about territorial aspirations and claims.

 

[Dry Ice]

taifoon, if the turks are making such a fuss about it - there must be some (black) gold down there and if so this thing should receive more coverage - this could spell a natural opportunity of millions

 

[fetikelmetssalet]

I still cant get why is Turkey threatening Lebanon??? This agreement is just to mark the borders for future Search for oil;
we search within our borders, and if ther's something downthere we take advantage of it.
If ther's smthg in Cyprus side,se3eta let them threaten the Greek Government only to divide it equally with the Turkish PPle living in Cyprus,

But why threaten Lebanon & Egypt if they marked the borders?????
Maybe some1 understood it better than me....

 

[justanotherlebanese]

Dry Ice,

Demarcating offshore boundaries is usually the first step before actual exploration. All offshore work done so far on the lebanese side has been non-intrusive by means of seismic methods. These preliminary techinques are completed with no need to comply with territorial jurisdictions. This was done by private companies who sell this information to oil companies that may be interested in pursuing further exploration.

By initiating this process, this means that the preliminary results show the potential for commercial oil production. This has been known for years, however, and intelligently (unusual eh?) Lebanese officials have been putting this off until syrian occupation was out.

Now is the time.

P.S: There has been several land exploration for oil decades ago at several locations in Lebanon, none of them was done correctly, and none suggested potential for commercial oil production. This has to be re-visited.

 

[taifoon]

taifoon, if the turks are making such a fuss about it - there must be some (black) gold down there and if so this thing should receive more coverage - this could spell a natural opportunity of millions

No doubt, i do hope there's at least something down there worth for us to go a simoultaneous diplomatic boxing rond, against the turks this time, when we're in the midth of barely surviving our own karbala2.

If we get fortunate and happen to hit black gold the better: There's a slight chance we can quickly get rid of our saudi debts.. That is after settling the sharade of building a functional country.

 

[Dry Ice]

Dry Ice,

Demarcating offshore boundaries is usually the first step before actual exploration. All offshore work done so far on the lebanese side has been non-intrusive by means of seismic methods. These preliminary techinques are completed with no need to comply with territorial jurisdictions. This was done by private companies who sell this information to oil companies that may be interested in pursuing further exploration.

By initiating this process, this means that the preliminary results show the potential for commercial oil production. This has been known for years, however, and intelligently (unusual eh?) Lebanese officials have been putting this off until syrian occupation was out.

Now is the time.

P.S: There has been several land exploration for oil decades ago at several locations in Lebanon, none of them was done correctly, and none suggested potential for commercial oil production. This has to be re-visited.

Is there a particular reason why Lebanese officials are currently and since the Syrian withdrawal 1 and 1/2 years ago so discreet about this assumingly important process concerning Lebanon's economy?

 

[justanotherlebanese]

Is there a particular reason why Lebanese officials are currently and since the Syrian withdrawal 1 and 1/2 years ago so discreet about this assumingly important process concerning Lebanon's economy?

Detailed information on location and predicted quantities is not free. The company that did the initial exploration sells this information to a third party. This company paid the lebanese government to complete the exploration, then will sell the information to several oil companies. Thats how they make their money. I think that the Ministry of Oil will be privy to this information as part of their contract, which explains this initiative to demaracte the offshore territorial boundaries in preparation of further and more serious exploration.

Dont expect this to make headline news in a country where everyone is currently horny trying to find pictures of people carrying guns to score cheap political points.

 

[neutral]

taifoon, if the turks are making such a fuss about it - there must be some (black) gold down there and if so this thing should receive more coverage - this could spell a natural opportunity of millions

Well, i dont mind such an issue going under the radar for a while...

There were some exploration done a long time ago in sohmor i guess, but it was deemed unexploitable since the cost was so high. But now, with the rise in barrel prices, it might be the right time for it...

Who knows, maybe finding petroleum off our shores could be the miracle that will solve our debt problem...

 

[Dry Ice]

Lebanon could meet its energy needs and generate $3 billion yearly

Companies need to come and drill for country's hydrocarbon offshore reserves

By Bechir Saade
Daily Star staff
Monday, October 03, 2005


BEIRUT: Lebanon could meet all of its energy needs and generate revenue of about $3 billion a year if the government proceeds with the appropriate legislation to set the ground for oil and gas companies to come and drill for its hydrocarbon offshore reserves. "Lebanon could have estimated oil or gas reserves of 70,000 and 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) with indirect foreign direct investment revenues estimated at current oil prices of $60 bpd to reach $60 billion in 20 years," said energy and privatization expert Roudi Baroudi, adding that "it won't take more than 10 to 18 months before we start cashing in."

As the world price of crude oil is skyrocketing, companies have excess liquidity and are looking for new ventures to invest in. This makes it imperative for the government to approach international corporations and start the bidding for offshore drilling, said Baroudi, adding that with newly available technology these initiatives are even more likely.

"In the 90s I would have been skeptical about the whole thing in terms of the cost incurred. But today, it takes nothing for a company to come and invest," said Baroudi.

Several studies done by at least three different seismic firms (Geopracla, Spectrum and TGS) covering 11,000 kilometers cut along 120 2D seismic lines, collected useful data showing that Lebanon's shore is petroliferous.

"Shell, Occidental, Total Elf Fina, Petrocanada, Amerada Hess, and Reading and Bates are some of the companies that have bought these offshore seismic studies and showed interest in drilling for oil and gas" said Baroudi. He added that there is no way to find out the actual capacity if companies do not start drilling.

According to the energy expert, Lebanon has a few things to do in order to start seeing investment flowing in: first, it needs to prepare the necessary legislative framework, including creating an appropriate public sharing agreement (PSA) system which enables a company to invest in the operation and get an estimated 20 to 25 percent of revenues, while the rest goes to the state. If prospects are revealed to be promising then government royalties can be increased for new comers said Baroudi, adding that "for example a new venture in the Gulf secures up to 95 percent of revenues for the state.

Second, political meddling should be stopped. In 1997, Qatar offered to supply liquefied natural gas in 1997 to Lebanon. Had the government started implementing the project "we would have had gas since 2000 saving approximately $400 million a year in today's price terms. Instead the situation looks grim: "the country has the highest kilowatt energy rate in the region," explained Baroudi.

In 1999, Syria agreed to supply Lebanon with gas should the infrastructure be completed. Again, mismanagement and oil lobbying to block the finalization of the project delayed the construction works of the gas pipeline until 2004. And due to the political turmoil in the beginning of 2005, the Syrian troops' withdrawal was followed by the offer's temporary withdrawal.

"The Syrian PSA is a very favorable one if Lebanon starts executing as its commits Damascus to supply gas at a highest price of $24 bpd which saves us over $40 per bpd," Baroudi said.

Third, marketing effort should be made to divide Lebanon's offshore into blocks available for tender, said Baroudi.

Meanwhile, Lebanon has precedents in the region in terms of offshore drilling.

Egypt started in the beginning of the 1990s and has increased gas production "by almost 50 percent between 1997 and the year 2000" thanks to new field discoveries within the Nile Delta region, said Baroudi

Israel today has three offshore wells, and even Gaza managed to attract British Gas to drill for one as reserves were rumored to be in excess of 300 billion cubic feet.

"The exploration success rate in the offshore Nile Delta of Egypt, for example, is about 85 percent, which is very positive for offshore Lebanese exploration potential" said Baroudi.

 

[Dry Ice]

Will Lebanon become an oil and Gas country?
Saturday, 23 December, 2006 @ 3:34 AM

Beirut- PGS Geophysical of Norway has started the implementation of the agreement it signed last May with Lebanon's Ministry of Water and Energy on the multi-client MC3D seismic for offshore Lebanon.

The Survey Ship Atlantic departed last Tuesday with several experts on board. The Ship will complete its mission in approximately seventy days. Representatives of Lebanon's Ministry of Water are also on board.

PGS released the following on the agreement:

PGS Geophysical AS has entered into an exclusive agreement with the Ministry of Water and Energy to acquire non-exclusive Multiclient MC3D seismic offshore Lebanon. The offshore area approximately covers 25,000 Sq.km and will be the subject of future licensing to oil and gas companies in 2006/2007.

Offshore Lebanon is already recognized as a very prospective sedimentary basin with a favorable petroleum geology, source rock, reservoir and seal development. This has led to multiple play development and the recognition of several viable petroleum systems with favorable timing of hydrocarbon
charge.

Water depths are in the region of 100-2000m’s, with the area located close to the Arab Gas Pipeline Project.

The area is dominated by the Levant Basin which has resulted from three main structural phases 1) Triassic to Early Jurassic rifting, 2) Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous passive margin development 3) Cenozoic compressional tectonics


Exploration History

There are no wells drilled in the area offshore Lebanon. However, seven wells have been drilled onshore between 1947 and 1967 all with shows of gas and or bitumen giving some indications to the regional geology/prospectivity.
In the offshore region within close proximity to Lebanon, wells/fields are known to contain oil and gas reservoir/source potential within the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary. E.g Gaza Marine.

Sources: PGS, LBC

 

[Dry Ice]

Offshore Lebanon MC3D Phase I

PGS in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Water are pleased to announce that they have signed an agreement on multi-client MC3D seismic for offshore Lebanon.

The Phase 1 acquisition will involve approximately 1000 sq km’s of MC3D seismic data in the 4th Quarter 2006, which covers an area over the Levant Basin. The survey will be available late in the 1st Quarter 2007 and lies within water depths of 1500m’s. It will form the basis for a future licensing round to the industry late in the 1st Quarter 2007

Summary of Acquisition

Acquisition Mode 2D
Energy Source 2x3090
Shotpoint Interval 25m
Source Depth 6m
Streamer 4050m x 6
Streamer Depth 7m
Group Interval 100m
Record Length 6000ms

http://www.pgs.com/Data_Library/North_Africa___Middle_East/Offshore_Lebanon_MC3D_Phase_I/

 

[Dry Ice]

Can we just pass this one over Dry? I think our government will just have to put the turks on hold and ask them to stand in line, until their turn comes and we find ourselves some extra time to deal with their arrogance apropriatly. I am sure Siniora will teach the turkish foreign minister few lessons about territorial aspirations and claims.

It didn't take long for an answer....

Lebanon assures Turkey it wants good relations despite oil, gas deal with Cyprus

Published: January 31, 2007

BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanon assured Turkey on Wednesday it was committed to their "excellent" relations despite signing an agreement with Turkey's foe and EU-member Cyprus for delineating undersea areas for future oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean.

The development came a day after Turkey harshly warned Lebanon and Egypt not to press ahead with the deal with Cyprus, saying Turkey and Turkish Cypriots also had rights in the region.

Hisham Dimashkieh, a senior official at the Lebanese foreign ministry, discussed the Turkish warning and other issues with Turkish Ambassador Irfan C. Acar at the foreign ministry, according to a statement carried by Lebanon's official National News Agency.

"Dimashkieh stressed to Acar that Lebanon is committed to its excellent relations with Turkey and clarified that Lebanon stands at an equal distance from all friendly countries out of keenness to preserve the rights of all parties," the statement said.

The agency quoted Acar as saying only that he made a courtesy call on Dimashkieh.

Lebanon and Cyprus signed the agreement for the delineation of an undersea border on Jan. 17 to facilitate future oil and gas exploration between the two east Mediterranean countries.

The 200 kilometer-wide (120 mile-wide) seabed separating Lebanon and Cyprus is believed to hold significant crude oil and natural gas deposits. The Norwegian energy consulting firm PGS recently began a 3-D seismic survey to determine the volume of exploitable hydrocarbon reserves off the Lebanese coast.

The exclusive zone agreement is designed to mark the underwater areas where each country can carry out exploration and exploitation work once oil or gas is discovered.

Egypt has previously signed a similar agreement with Cyprus, allowing for the joint exploitation of potential undersea oil and gas fields between the two countries.

The Turkish foreign ministry on Tuesday said Turkey had "legitimate and legal rights and interests " in the eastern Mediterranean and insisted Turkish Cypriots also had a say on oil and gas rights concerning the island.

It also said Lebanon had signed the deal with Cyprus despite assurances made to Turkish leaders that it would not, the ministry said.

The Mediterranean island has been divided into a Greek Cypriot south — home of the internationally recognized government — and Turkish Cypriot north since a 1974 Turkish invasion sparked by a coup supporting the union of the island with Greece.

Turkey has no diplomatic relations with the government in the south and supports a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state, recognized only by Ankara.

The internationally recognized Cypriot government said it would launch an international tender in February for offshore oil and gas exploration rights.

The Associated Press

 

[Dry Ice]

Some interesting graphs are available here

 

[fetikelmetssalet]

I still dont understand why should we Isue a clarification to Turkey. This is our national borders (miyah eklimiya) that we want to trace (tersim houdoud) with another country that happened to be their ennemy.

In case oil or Gas was found let them pressure On greek Cyprus to divide it equally with turkish ones,but what do we have to do with this???