TotalEnergies issues rig tender for Lebanon probe



TotalEnergies has mobilised teams in readiness to drill a key exploration well offshore Lebanon in 2023 and is tendering for a rig to carry out the deep-water operation.

As part of a recent maritime boundary agreement between Israel and Lebanon, the French supermajor and its partner Eni committed to drill an exploration well on the Qana prospect in Block 9 in Lebanese waters.

During a meeting in Paris, TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne told Walid Fayad, Lebanon’s Minister of Energy & Water that the company’s teams in charge of drilling operations were now mobilised.

To date, in addition to the operations manager, more than 10 people are involved in the preparation of the well, said the supermajor in a statement, adding that by the end of March 2022, its team in Beirut will reach more than 20 employees.

A call for tenders to secure the drilling rig has been launched and should lead to a selection of the preferred unit in the first quarter of 2023.

Pre-orders have also been placed with suppliers for equipment required for the well.

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In parallel, offshore resources are being mobilised to contribute to the environmental studies which are due to be finalised by the end of June 2023, said the operator.

TotalEnergies saidf it is working with the Lebanon Petroleum Administration and Eni “to complete the drilling as soon as possible in 2023”.

Qana is a large prospect that has been mapped as extending into Israeli waters and lies close to Energean’s producing Karish gas field.