ExxonMobil-Helleniq Energy offshore Crete surveys done

Norwegian geophysical company PGS has completed 2D seismic survey work west and southwest of Crete on behalf of the ExxonMobil-Helleniq Energy consortium, holding licenses for blocks in the two areas.

Results offering a picture on the hydrocarbon prospects at these offshore Cretan areas are expected to be ready in approximately one years’ time, sources informed.

PGS’ Sanco Swift vessel spent nearly three-and-a-half months conducting seismic surveys at the two offshore blocks, measuring a total of 40,000 square kilometers, to collect data that will now be examined at the company’s specialized labs.

According to sources, PGS collected more than double the required seismic survey data for the ExxonMobil-Helleniq Energy consortium following an agreement with EDEYEP, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company.

The PGS vessel scanned 13,000 square kilometers of offshore territory, double the 6,500 square meters specified in the consortium’s license (3,250 square meters for each block).

Ensuing and more detailed 3D scans by the ExxonMobil-Helleniq Energy consortium at these blocks has not been ruled out, sourced noted. If so, this follow-up effort would take place during the final two months of 2023 or early in 2024, the sources added.

However, ExxonMobil, the consortium’s chief partner, is most likely to skip this stage and move straight on to drilling if the 2D seismic results are favorable.

 

Elpedison set to finalize decision for Thessaloniki CCGT

Helleniq Energy, formerly ELPE, and Edison are close to finalizing an investment decision for the co-development, by their Elpedison partnership, of an 826-MW CCGT, or gas-fueled power station, in Thessaloniki.

Elpedison’s shareholders are expected to reach an investment decision for the 826-MW CCGT in May, sources have informed. Preliminary work linked to this project has already begun at Helleniq Energy’s refineries.

This prospective CCGT was one of the first new-generation projects to have been licensed by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, back in 2019. However, despite the time that has since elapsed, the partnership’s shareholders had held back on an investment decision.

The country’s decarbonization plan, and its scope, was one issue that troubled company shareholders,

The Elpedison CCGT is fully licensed in terms of environmental, town planning and other requirements.

Despite its early licensing, other CCGT projects of the same class have jumped ahead and are already being developed in various parts of Greece.

The Mytilineos group has already launched an 826-MW CCGT in Agios Nikolaos, Viotia, northwest of Athens. GEK TERNA and Motor Oil have joined forces for an 877-MW Thermoilektriki Komotinis gas-fueled power station. More recently, power utility PPC, DEPA Commercial and Damco Energy reached an investment decision to develop an 840-MW gas-fueled facility in Alexandroupoli, northeastern Greece.

 

DEPA Commercial staging solar farm tenders for its RES entry

Gas company DEPA Commercial, preparing to also venture into the renewable energy sector with solar farms offering a total capacity of 550 MW, plans to announce tenders for the development and installation of these facilities within the next three months, energypress sources have informed.

DEPA Commercial will look to attract construction companies with experience and knowhow in the RES sector. At this stage, DEPA Commercial officials are considering the number of tenders to be staged.

The total budget for these solar farm projects is expected to reach an estimated 400 million euros. Incentives for swifter project completion will be incorporated into the tenders.

The bulk, or 450 MW, of DEPA Commercial’s 550-MW in solar farms is planned to be developed in the Kozani area, northern Greece. One of these units, expected to offer 400 MW, will be among Greece’s biggest. DEPA Commercial’s remaining 100 MW is planned to be developed in the Viotia region, northwest of Athens.

Helleniq Energy, formerly named ELPE, and PPC Renewables are also developing major-scale solar farms.

DEPA Commercial, whose entry into renewables comes as part of the company’s plan to vertically integrate, intends to follow-up its initial lot of 550-MW in solar farms with an additional 150 MW in RES projects, still awaiting connection terms.

Crete hydrocarbon hopes lifted by initial seismic survey results

Initial findings of ongoing seismic surveys conducted at licenses off Crete have raised hopes of significant hydrocarbon discoveries, government officials have told an event staged by EDEYEP, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company.

If the upbeat prospects generated by emerging data are confirmed during drilling, then quantities to be extracted off Crete will cover Europe’s projected energy insufficiencies, government officials contended on the sidelines of the EDEYEP event, staged last night to mark its transition from EDEY, the Greek Hydrocarbon Management Company.

A recent report released by IEA, the International Energy Agency, notes Europe will face annual energy shortages of 30 billion cubic meters for ten years, even if renewables, biogas and hydrogen are brought in to replace Russian natural gas quantities.

Norwegian company PGS is currently conducting 2D surveys at offshore blocks west and southwest of Crete on behalf of ExxonMobil and Helleniq Energy, formerly ELPE.

Local authorities expect drilling at these licenses to commence in early 2025.

Domestic upstream activity has increased, EDEYEP president Rikard Skoufias told the company event, noting seven seismic surveys have been staged in Greece over an eight-month period compared to just two over the past decade.

 

PM rules out new tender for hydrocarbon licenses

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, fielding questions at a news conference yesterday, ruled out the possibility of any new international tender for additional licenses concerning onshore or offshore hydrocarbon exploration.

“We are not considering exploring other areas,” the Prime Minister informed, responding to a related question.

Reignited hydrocarbon exploration activity for natural gas deposits in Greece had generated rumors the government would consider staging additional tenders to grant new licenses for exploration south of Crete as well as at an offshore area between the island and the Peloponnese.

Commenting on the progress of surveys being conducted west and southwest of Crete by a consortium comprised of ExxonMobil and Helleniq Energy, formerly ELPE, the Greek Prime Minister said a clearer picture is expected towards the end of the year.

The ExxonMobil-Helleniq Energy consortium may extend the duration of its 2D seismic surveys at these blocks until the end of the first quarter to collect additional data. This could result in greater clarity and enable the consortium to skip the need for 3D surveys.

Elsewhere, Energean and Helleniq Energy are also pressing ahead with respective licenses in the Ionian Sea. Both companies have completed seismic surveys and expect to have received results towards the fourth quarter.

Energean holds a license for an offshore block northwest of Corfu and Helleniq Energy holds two licenses, Ionio and Kyparissiakos (Gulf of Kyparissia).

 

Bureaucracy, elections troubling upstream sector in Greece

ExxonMobil, Energean and Helleniq Energy, formerly ELPE, all conducting hydrocarbon surveys at Greek licenses, have not only stuck to their schedules but even taken initiatives to speed up procedures for sooner-than-expected drilling. Even so, two factors beyond their control, namely bureaucracy and imminent elections, may hold up their plans.

Energean skipped 2D surveys at its Block 2 offshore license in the Ionian Sea’s northwest, moving straight on to 3D surveys.

Hellenic Energy moved swiftly in 2022 to complete 2D and 3D seismic surveys at two offshore licenses, Ionio and Block 10, both in the Ionian Sea.

ExxonMobil is considering to start drilling sooner than originally planned at its offshore Cretan licenses. As a result, it is staging more comprehensive 2D surveys for a clearer picture of geological details.

State bureaucracy is an obstacle for upstream companies operating in Greece. The overall procedure concerning social and environmental impact studies, which require energy ministry approval ahead of drilling, requires at least eight months to be completed.

Then, upstream companies usually require a further six months or so to make arrangements for drilling rigs, configure sites and identify a port or base area for their drilling rigs.

The uncertainty created by the upcoming Greek elections, expected within the first half of the year, is another factor troubling the efforts of upstream companies.

 

Fuel sales up 2 percent in 2022, higher heating fuel prices in ‘23

Retail fuel sales rose by a marginal 2 percent in 2022, compared to the previous year, a rise attributed to higher auto and heating fuel demand.

Gasoline sales fell by 2 percent, compared to 2021, the biggest drop occurring in the second half of 2022, which, however, was offset by higher demand for diesel and heating fuel, market officials noted.

Demand for auto diesel increased by an estimated 3.5 to 4 percent, driven higher by the country’s continuing rise in tourism, as well as by the economy’s robust performance in 2022.

Heating fuel demand increased as a result of lower prices compared to other heating sources. Heating fuel sales increased by 6 percent as consumers rushed to make the most of government subsidies, ahead of cuts, and discounts offered by refineries.

The finance ministry cut heating fuel subsidies by 10 cents per liter, reducing state subsidies for this fuel to 15 cents per liter from 25 cents per liter.

Also, according to sources, Helleniq Energy, formerly ELPE, will not continue offering a discount of 0.0375 euros per liter for heating fuel to suppliers in the new year.

The combined effect of these revisions is expected to lead to a gradual rise of 14 cents per liter in heating fuel retail prices.

 

 

 

ExxonMobil drilling for gas off Crete may begin a year earlier

ExxonMobil could begin drilling at licenses offshore Crete a year earlier than planned as the American energy giant tends to adopt a more direct approach when exploring for natural gas, sector authorities have noted.

Such was the case at Cyprus’ Block 10, for which ExxonMobil conducted seismic surveys before skipping the 3D survey stage to go straight ahead with drilling that led to the discovery of the Glafkos deposit, the officials pointed out.

A consortium comprised of ExxonMobil and Helleniq Energy, formerly ELPE, holds licenses for two offshore Crete blocks, one west of the island, the other southwest. The consortium has commissioned PGS to conduct 2D seismic surveys at both these licenses. They are in full progress and are expected to be completed towards the end of January.

According their original plan, ExxonMobil and Helleniq Energy planned to follow up with 3D surveys at the end of 2023 or early in 2024. However, if ExxonMobil, the consortium’s operator, opts to skip the 3D surveys, initial drilling offshore Crete will begin sooner, in 2024, instead of 2025.

Elsewhere, in the Ionian Sea, a consortium made up of Helleniq Energy and Energean expects to have the results of 3D surveys at three blocks, Ionio, Kyparissiakos, and Block 2, by the end of 2023 or early in 2024. It will then decide if it will continue with initial drilling.

 

Greek energy market attracting major interest at London roadshow

Foreign funds are expressing major investment interest in Greece’s renewable energy market as well as the country’s plan for green energy transportation from the Middle East, while major international energy groups appear extremely interested in Greek upstream developments and the ongoing transformation of Greece as a natural gas hub, a series of one-on-one and group meetings between highly ranked officials of Greek energy groups and international investors have highlighted following the first day of a roadshow in London.

The London event, co-organized by the Athens bourse and Morgan Stanley, has already indicated that 2023 could be a bumper year for foreign investments in Greece’s energy sector.

Of 29 Greek companies taking part in the road show, ten hail from the energy sector, a representation highlighting the strong international investment interest in Greece’s energy market.

Power grid operator IPTO’s ADMIE Holdings, Cenergy, Ellaktor, Elvalhalcor, Helleniq Energy, Motor Oil, Mytilineos, PPC, TERNA and Viohalko, the ten Greek energy groups taking part, will hold further meetings with investors today. These sessions could lay the foundations for new deals.

Over 300 meetings are scheduled to take place at the London event. Many of these will purely focus on energy matters.

 

Helleniq Energy set for 3D surveys at licenses in west

Helleniq Energy, previously named Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), is expected to begin conducting 3D seismic surveys at two offshore licenses, Ionio, in the Ionian Sea, and block 10 in the Gulf of Kyparissia, west of Peloponnese, within the next few days.

A Navtex for both endeavors has already been issued. PGS, commissioned to conduct the seismic surveys, will use its Ramform Hyperion seismic vessel. It will roll out twelve cables covering 8-km distances to scan sea beds for possible natural gas deposits.

The Ramform Hyperion seismic vessel appears to have completed work at the Ionian Sea’s block 2, adjacent to Italian territory in the Adriatic Sea, on behalf of a consortium comprising Energean and Helleniq Energy.

The vessel collected data from an area covering 2,000 square kilometers. Survey work at block 2 commenced in late October.

According to a Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Sources Management Company (HEREMA) schedule, blocks 2 and 10 are expected to be ready for drilling by early 2024. Helleniq Energy conducted 2D surveys at both blocks last February.

 

 

 

Helleniq Energy set for 3D surveys off Greece’s west

Helleniq Energy is preparing to conduct 3D seismic surveys at two licenses, block 10 in the Gulf of Kyparissia, west of the Peloponnese, and the “Ionio” block in the Ionian Sea, within the next few weeks, chief executive Andreas Siamisiis has told analysts during a presentation of the group’s financial results for the nine-month period.

Helleniq Energy, which recently underwent a name change from ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum), had previously conducted 2D surveys at these two blocks last February. Its decision to take a step further with 3D surveys at the two licenses suggests a clearer picture of promising targets already identified is needed.

The energy group’s decision to move ahead with its hydroexploration plans reflects the overall determination of the government, HEREMA, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company, and investors to press ahead with exploration programs to identify potential targets with natural gas reserves.

Elsewhere, Energean is pushing ahead with its survey work at block 2 in the Ionian Sea, adjacent to Italian territory in the Adriatic Sea.

In addition, an ExxonMobil-led consortium involving Helleniq Energy as a junior partner is moving rapidly with survey work at two offshore block licenses west and southwest of Crete.

 

Offshore Crete seismic surveys pave way for drilling in 2025-26

A consortium headed by ExxonMobil plans to begin conducting seismic surveys at licenses south and southwest of Crete this winter, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced yesterday, confirming previous energypress reports.

The timing of the prospective surveys is in line with a schedule announced earlier this year by HEREMA, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company, which envisaged surveys for the winter of 2022-2023.

The seismic surveys are expected to be followed by higher-definition 3D surveys in 2024. If all goes according to plan, initial drilling at the offshore Cretan blocks could take place in 2025 and 2026, which, if successful, would result in development of hydrocarbon deposits in 2027, leading to production in 2029.

ExxonMobil increased its stake in a consortium holding licenses for two offshore Cretan blocks following a recent decision by France’s TotalEnergies to withdraw from the venture. ExxonMobil acquired TotalEnergies’ share to now hold a 70 percent share in the consortium as the venture’s operator. Helleniq Energy, formerly named ELPE, is the venture’s junior partner.

Older seismic surveys conducted in 2015 by Norway’s PGS for Helleniq Energy – operating, at the time, as ELPE – at the two offshore Cretan blocks south and southwest of the island showed promising signs of a major natural gas deposit.

 

Greece advances its upstream gas exploration program

Following an announcement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and successful geophysical surveys conducted in early 2022 in the Central and South Ionian, Greece’s national hydrocarbons and energy resources corporation, HEREMA, today announced the next steps in the country’s upstream exploration programme with the acquisition of a 3D seismic survey in the North Ionian Sea (block 2), and 2D seismic surveys West and South/West of Crete.

In April, the Prime Minister announced the country’s accelerated timeframe to explore Greece’s upstream potential, with focus on natural gas and the expansion of HEREMA, which today oversees upstream exploration, greenhouse gas management & sequestration, gas storage, offshore wind and international pipeline projects.

The surveys will take place during the winter months ahead, in order to minimize any environmental impact, and will be conducted in accordance with the best-in-class standards for environmental protection, including:

  • Use of the “soft start” protocol to ensure that marine mammals can temporarily depart from the seismic survey area prior to its commencement.
  • Doubling of marine mammal observers onboard the seismic survey vessel to ensure protection of cetaceans and other marine life within the safety zone.
  • Extension of the safety zone radius around the seismic survey vessel in case of detection of large marine animals.
  • Waiting period 30 minutes before the start and stop of each exploration activity.
  • Passive acoustic monitoring of underwater sounds for the measurement of sea noise levels and the detection of marine mammals.
  • Application of a 1 km exclusion zone around the “Natura” areas as well as fish farms.
  • Airborne monitoring of cetaceans during and after seismic surveys.
  • Full compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines in accordance with MARPOL VI and ACCOBAMS conventions and JNCC guidelines.

Compliance with the above measures and all relevant procedures shall be ensured by the presence on board the research vessel of independent observers from HEREMA. Furthermore, during the surveys experienced specialized personnel is in constant communication with the involved local and regional port authorities as well as with the commercial and fishing vessels that sail near the survey areas in order to ensure the smooth execution of both the geophysical surveys as well as the daily activities in the specific areas.

Aris Stefatos, CEO of HEREMA, commented “we are very happy to announce this progress in line with the plan we announced with the Prime Minister earlier this year. International investors and partners in both conventional and renewable energies have reacted very positively to that plan. In August we welcomed ExxonMobil as new operator in Crete, and the pace at which we progress is evidence of our excellent cooperation with leading energy companies and service providers, such as ExxonMobil, Helleniq Energy, Energean, and PGS — a leading global seismic acquisition and processing company.”

Rikard Scoufias, Chairman of HEREMA hailed the progress and said “this marks another important milestone in our strategy to monetize Greece’s natural gas resources and our efforts to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable energy mix and strengthening security of supply. Greek natural gas can play an important role — not only for Greece, but also in support of the broader region and Europe’s increasing demand for domestic energy resources at a crucial time for energy security.”

HEREMA Profile

Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management S.A. (HEREMA S.A.), formerly HHRM, is Greece’s independent State-owned company responsible for managing the country’s hydrocarbon resources. Following the appointment in 2020 of new leadership for the company, HEREMA’s strategic remit has been expanded and today encompasses the upstream sector, greenhouse gas management & sequestration, gas storage, international pipeline projects (including the EastMed pipeline, and the recently completed IGB interconnector), and offshore wind.

 

 

ExxonMobil-Helleniq Energy seismic surveys off Crete

US oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil has been conducting seismic surveys under complete secrecy and at a rapid pace over the past week or so at two offshore block licenses, west and southwest of Crete, held with Helleniq Energy, formerly named ELPE, as its junior partner.

The two blocks share similar geological traits with Egypt’s giant offshore Zohr gas field and, according to early estimates, may contain rich natural gas quantities.

American presence is being assured, through ExxonMobil, in the southeast Mediterranean region at a particularly critical geopolitical period, both because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Turkey’s provocative moves against Greece (aggressive rhetoric and the Libya pact), political analysts told energypress.

ExxonMobil acted swiftly to increase its stake in a consortium holding licenses for the two offshore Cretan blocks following a recent  decision by France’s TotalEnergies to withdraw. ExxonMobil acquired TotalEnergies’ share to now hold a 70 percent share in the consortium as the venture’s operator.

The ExxonMobil-led seismic surveys off Crete, which began on October 24, are being conducted by Norway’s PGS and the company’s Sanco Swift seismic vessel. It is conducting 3D surveys, meaning ExxonMobil is focusing on specific areas for possible natural gas deposits.

Energean set for seismic survey at Ionian Sea’s block 2

A consortium comprising Energean and Helleniq Energy, formerly Hellenic Petroleum, is set to begin a seismic survey at the Ionian Sea’s block 2, adjacent to Italian territory in the Adriatic Sea, reliable sources have informed energypress.

Norwegian company PGS will collect 3D data covering an area of 2,000 square kilometers with its Ramform Hyperion seismic vessel, following orders by Energean, the operator, the sources added.

The Hellenic Navy has issued a Navtex, offering navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts, for the seismic survey, to be conducted a long way off the coast, by the sea border shared with Italy.

The Energean – Helleniq Energy consortium has decided to conduct this offshore survey at block 2 in the Ionian Sea following a government decision last spring to accelerate Greece’s exploration plan for the identification of potential natural gas deposits. The 3D seismic data to be acquired will replace existing 2D data.

The upcoming effort promises to be the sixth seismic survey to be conducted in Greece over the past seven years following surveys at Prinos in 2015, the Gulf of Patras in 2016, Ioannina in 2018-2019, and at blocks in the Ionian Sea and Gulf of Kyparissia-northwest Peloponnese last spring.

 

HELLENiQ ENERGY heating oil discount, price below €1.40/lt

HELLENiQ ENERGY, formerly ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum), has decided to offer an additional discount to heating oil suppliers that will result in a retail price for households of less than 1.40 euros per liter, estimated to reach between 1.37 euros and 1.39 euros per liter. These price levels that take into account a state subsidy of 0.25 euro per liter.

The company plans to offer a further discount of 5 percent by November 21, which, if implemented, will lower the retail price of heating oil to 1.33 euros per liter.

Until early yesterday evening, heating oil retailers had set price levels of between 1.44 euros and 1.49 euros per liter, while, earlier in the week, projections had forecast price levels of between 1.50 euros and 1.55 euros per liter, now seriously undercut.

HELLENiQ ENERGY based its decision to offer an additional discount on a strategy support residential consumers challenged by high energy costs and higher living costs in general.

 

RAE approvals steps towards new FSRUs off Corinth, Thessaloniki

RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has approved Elpedison’s Thessaloniki FSRU project as well as the final phase of a market test for Motor Oil’s FSRU plan, Dioryga Gas, off Corinth, west of Athens.

For Elpedison, the authority’s approval essentially signals the go-ahead for the Thessaloniki FSRU (floating storage unit) as the decision awards a 50-year project license until 2072.

A 50-50 joint venture involving Elpedison’s two partners, Edison and HELLENiQ, formerly known as Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), the Thessaloniki FSRU will be developed at the Thermaic Gulf, just a few kilometers from Dock 6 at Thessaloniki port.

The Thessaloniki FSRU, planned to consist of four storage tanks offering a total of 170,000 cubic meters, is scheduled to be launched in 2025.

Besides approving guidelines for the final phase of Motor Oil’s market test concerning the Dioryga Gas FSRU project off Corinth, RAE also approved a capacity boost for this project, to 210,000 cubic meters from 170,000 cubic meters, as had been specified in the project’s original license, as well as Diorygas Gas’ transfer to Motor Oil’s MORE subsidiary, also hosting the petroleum group’s RES projects.

 

Some investors behind CCGTs stalling, others forging ahead

Energy crisis uncertainty and the singling out of natural gas for its exorbitant price levels are factors troubling investors behind new combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant projects.

Some investors have stalled their CCGT investment plans, waiting to see how developments unfold concerning gas prices and availability, while, on the other hand, more aggressive players are forging ahead.

Elpedison has yet to reach an investment decision on a new 860-MW CCGT at the company’s Thessaloniki refinery facilities. Despite having begun some preliminary work, Elpedison’s partners – HELLENiQ ENERGY, until recently named Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), and Edison – have put their Thessaloniki CCGT project on hold to appraise international and European energy market developments.

If developed, Elpedison’s prospective 860-MW Thessaloniki facility would add to the joint venture’s two existing facilities. The HELLENiQ ENERGY petroleum group is also planning an FSRU at the Thermaic Gulf, which would establish a Thessaloniki hub for the company.

The Copelouzos group has also been troubled by the adverse market conditions. Group member Damco Energy had secured a license for an 840-MW CCGT in Alexandroupoli, northern Greece, but the high cost of natural gas and overall market uncertainty prompted the company to not go it alone and seek partners for the project.

According to sources, power utility PPC and gas company DEPA Commercial have joined Damco Energy for the Alexandroupoli CCGT. Official announcements on the partnership are expected soon.

Elsewhere, the GEK TERNA and Motor Oil groups have begun working on an 877-MW CCGT in Komotini, northeastern Greece. The former, in its publication of first-half results, noted work on the “Thermoilektriki Komotinis” project is continuing, its scheduled launch unchanged for 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

ELPE, renamed HELLENiQ ENERGY, looks to triple RES capacity in 1 ½ yrs

The chief executive of Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), which has taken on a new name, HELLENiQ ENERGY, unveiled at a company event in Athens yesterday, took the opportunity to underline the enterprise’s interest in the renewable energy market and RES takeovers abroad, the objective being to triple its green portfolio in 18 months.

HELLENiQ ENERGY’s chief executive, Andreas Siamisiis, informed that the company is currently progressing with two RES company takeovers in foreign markets, without specifying in which countries.

According to sources, one of these two HELLENiQ ENERGY takeovers is in Italy, while the other is in one of Greece’s neighbors along the northern border.

The HELLENiQ ENERGY head told the company event that the Greek market is too small for RES takeovers, adding deals abroad serve the group’s interest to expand.

HELLENiQ ENERGY’s current portfolio of operating RES facilities is at 340 MW, which the company aims to increase to 1 GW within the next year and a half. Its RES portfolio, overall, totals 2 GW.