Chevron spuds Egypt exploration well in hunt for more Eastern Mediterranean gas
Probe is located in the Nargis block in sparsely drilled waters far from infrastructure
US supermajor Chevron is drilling ahead on an exploration well in potentially gas-rich waters offshore the Sinai peninsula in Egypt.
The East Mediterranean is becoming a core gas play for the US giant, built on its huge Leviathan field in Israel, a gas discovery in Cyprus and exploration acreage in Egypt.
Drillship Stena Forth is currently operating on the Nargis Offshore block, some 60 kilometres from shore, about 80 kilometres east of the nearest Egyptian gas infrastructure and 70 kilometres west of the long dormant Gaza Marine gas discovery offshore Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave.
The name of the prospect being drilled is not known, with a Chevron spokesperson declining to answer any questions about the exploration well.
“Chevron holds an operating interest in the Nargis Offshore block in the Eastern Mediterranean, in consortium with Tharwa Petroleum Company,” said the US player’s spokesperson in an emailed statement.
“We look forward to working together with our partners and supporting the development of Egypt’s energy sector through this exploration programme. As per our long-standing policy, we do not discuss specific commercial opportunities.”
Chevron would also not comment on the next move for the drillship, although market sources expect it to mobilise to drill a key appraisal well on the Aphrodite gas discovery offshore Cyprus.
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