LNG

Sept 10 (LNGJ) - The Egyptian Zohr natural gas field in the East Mediterranean, which is allowing Egypt to cease LNG imports, has reached new high production levels of 2 billion cubic feet per day and higher rates are expected in 2019. “This outstanding result has been achieved only a few months after the first gas in December 2017 and one year before the schedule of the plan of development,” said Italian energy company Eni, the field operator. “The latest achievement reinforces the exceptional development path of the Zohr project, one of Eni’s seven record-breaking projects, which is playing a fundamental role in supporting Egypt’s independence from LNG imports,” said Eni. “Eni, its partner, Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and their joint venture company Petrobel aimed to reach a plateau in excess of 2.7 bcf per day in 2019,” added Eni.

Egypt is on track to halt LNG imports by year-end as natural gas production was ramped up at its large-scale discovery in the East Mediterranean, about 180 kilometres offshore from Port Said and in waters of 1,500 metres in depth.

Italian energy company Eni has agreed to sell a stake for $934 million to the United Arab Emirates-based Mubadala Petroleum in the prolific Shorouk concession offshore Egypt containing the huge Zohr natural gas field that will enable the Egyptians to halt LNG imports as most of their domestic gas requirements will be met.

French energy company Total and partners, Italian company Eni and Russian natural gas and LNG player Novatek, have signed two exploration and production agreements covering offshore Lebanon in the East Mediterranean.

The merged US subsea and energy services company formed by Baker Hughes and GE Oil and Gas has signed its highest-profile contract yet under the BHGE banner for Phase Two development of the Zohr gas field in the east Mediterranean that will boost Egyptian natural gas supplies and reduce LNG needs.

May 11 (LNGJ) - BP of the UK said it had started natural gas production from the first two fields of the West Nile Delta development in Egypt. The West Nile Delta venture and the Zohr gas project in the East Mediterranean are expected to lessen current Egyptian dependence on LNG to meet domestic demand. The project was delivered eight months ahead of schedule and the first gas was delivered to Egypt’s national grid. “The commissioning of all nine wells of the development’s first two fields and ramp up to stable operations has now been completed,” said BP. When fully onstream in 2019, combined production from both West Nile projects is expected to reach around 1.5 billion cubic feet a day, equivalent to about 30 percent of Egypt’s current gas production.

The chief executives of Italian energy company Eni and UK major BP have held a signing ceremony with the Egyptian government in Cairo, completing the sale of a 10 percent stake to BP for around $500 million in the “supergiant” Zohr field that will impact regional LNG trading when it comes on stream in late 2017.

Italian energy company Eni is contemplating the impact of its new “significant” natural gas discovery in the Baltim South West exploration prospect in the waters of the Nile Delta offshore Egypt.

Aker Solutions of Norway has won an order to supply key equipment for the development of Egypt’s largest offshore natural gas discovery being developed by Italian operator Eni as a gas hub for the East Mediterranean and ending the nation's need for LNG imports.