Offshore staff
HOUSTON – Gas sales from the deepwater Tamar field offshore Israel exceeded 1 bcf/d (28 MMcm/d) at various times early this year, according to operator Noble Energy.
These volumes were driven by increased electricity demand in Israel due to cold weather and coal plant maintenance.
Noble says the Ashdod onshore terminal compression project is more than 90% complete. The expansion is expected to increase deliverability at Tamar to 1.2 bcf/d (34 MMcm/d) by mid-2015.
The Tamar partners have executed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) for interruptible sales of up to 250 MMcf/d (7.1 MMcm/d) of natural gas from the field for seven years to Dolphinus Holdings for supply toEgypt’s domestic market.
Initial sales under the LOI could start later this year using existing Tamar production capacity and currently available pipeline infrastructure. Negotiation is under way of a final purchase and sale contract, after which the start of sales will be depend on regulatory approvals for regional export.
However, further investments in the expansion of Tamar, as well as the initial development of the giant deepwater Leviathan gas field, have been suspended until the partners and Israel’s government resolve regulatory issues.
02/19/2015
