oil exploration

Energean to acquire Total’s stake in Block 2, offshore Greece

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Energean, the oil and gas producer focused on the Mediterranean, has signed an agreement for the acquisition of Total’s stake in Block 2, offshore Western Greece, providing further material exploration opportunities in its core area of the Eastern Mediterranean with limited financial exposure, the company has announced.

The deal further enhances the future growth potential of Energean’s portfolio and medium-term optionality to deliver value to all stakeholders, the company noted. 

On completion, Energean would acquire Total’s entire 50% Working Interest share and Operatorship. Energean’s net remaining expenditure towards satisfaction of the minimum work obligation, which includes 1800km of 2D seismic acquisition and processing – activity which Energean believes could significantly de-risk the prospectivity of the licence – is approximately €0.5 million. Energean believes this is a highly attractive transaction in the context of the early stage prospectivity identified on the Block.

Work to date on the licence has identified that Block 2 contains part of a large, potential target comprising of a four-way closure at the Top Jurassic Apulia platform. The prospect is thought to be an analogue to the Vega field offshore Italy, in which Edison E&P operates with a 60% working interest. The structure is covered by sparse 2D seismic which could be de-risked through the seismic programme that will be acquired as part of the minimum work programme.

The feature straddles the Greek and Italian maritime border with approximately 60% of the prospect within the Block 2 license with the remaining area part in Italian waters. Edison E&P, of which Energean expects to complete its acquisition during 1H 2020, as well as holding a 25% Working Interest in Block 2 also participates in the adjacent 84F.R-EL block offshore Italy, pending award. Post completion of the Edison E&P transaction, Energean will then own a 75% Working Interest in Block 2. Hellenic Petroleum owns the remaining 25% Working Interest.

Athens wants greater French hydrocarbon engagement

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The government wants France’s Total to play a more active role in Greek offshore hydrocarbon exploration, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made clear during a meeting in Paris yesterday with the French group’s chief executive Patrick Pouyanné.

The potential of Greece’s hydrocarbon market, including offshore licenses south and southwest of Crete held by a Total-led consortium – it also features Exxon Mobil and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) – was the main focus of yesterday’s meeting.

Processing of seismic data collected from the Cretan offshore blocks has provided strong evidence of a deposit sharing similar attributes to Egypt’s Zohr gas field. However, this needs to be proved in practice. French officials have remained cautiously optimistic as they await initial drilling operations for a clearer picture.

Total’s plans for exploration within the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone, specifically at Block 8, for which Total shares a license with Italy’s Eni, were also discussed yesterday.

Turkish drillship Yavuz has sought to engage in illegal exploration activities in this area. French officials do not intend to intercept any Turkish moves at this stage but are expected to do so if the exploratory rights of Total and Eni are disputed once the companies decide to start exploring the area.

 

Energean releases update on recent operations, performance

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Energean Oil and Gas has provided an update on recent operations and the Group’s trading performance in 2019 together with guidance for 2020. This information is unaudited and subject to further review.
Mathios Rigas, Chief Executive, Energean commented: “Karish and Tanin is on track to deliver first gas in 1H 2021 and we have now secured 5.0 bcm/yr of firmly contracted gas sales to Israeli domestic buyers, 1.3 bcm/yr of contingent gas sales and 2.0 bcm/yr of potential sales to be discussed under a Letter of Intent with Greece’s DEPA. With the above we are fast approaching our goal to fill the capacity of the Energean Power. We are already looking at growth opportunities on the resource side from our nine blocks in Israel and on potential additional infrastructure capacity that will allow us to expand gas sales in the region. With the expected closing of the acquisition of Edison E&P and subsequent sale of the North Sea assets to Neptune, we will further enhance our position
in our core markets, substantially increase our reserves and production and realise immediate operating cash flow. Post completion, the combined portfolio will establish a material long-term cash flow profile that supports our ambition to pay a sustainable dividend. I look forward to continuing this positive momentum in 2020, with a key focus on delivering Karish; closing and integrating Edison E&P; and continuing the sustainable growth of Energean, maximising value for all of our stakeholders.”
“2019 has undoubtedly been the year that climate change has dominated the energy discussion; Sustainability continues to be at the core of Energean’s gas-focused strategy and in 2019, we became one of the first E&P Companies in the world to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and we are targeting over 70% reduction in our carbon intensity over the next three years, with a firm intention to continue our reduction efforts until we achieve our net zero target. In 2019, we also continued to deliver upon our exemplary HSE track record with one million hours free of Lost Time Incidents in Energean sites plus four million man hours in the FPSO construction yard in China.”

Highlights

• Energean expects that year end 2019 Working Interest reserves and resources will be 554 million boe, a 38% increase on 2018 year end, driven primarily by the 190 mmboe Karish North Discovery.
• The Karish development is on track to deliver first gas in 1H 2021.
Subject to finalisation of Netherland Sewell and Associates Competent Persons’ Reports. 2C resources for Karish
North are based on management estimates. Stated before Edison E&P assets are taken into account 
• 5.0 Bcm/yr of firm Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements (“GSPAs) signed in Israel, with a further 1.3 Bcm/yr of contingent contracts and 2.0 Bcm/yr of potential sales to be discussed under a Letter of Intent, demonstrating significant progress on our ambition to fill the 8 Bcm/yr capacity of our FPSO.
• 2019 average Working Interest production of 3.3 kbopd. Cost of Production was approximately $21 /bbl.
• 2019 full year revenue is expected to be approximately $76 million. Capital expenditure was $721 million.
• At 31 December 2019, Energean had net debt of $557 million, including the non-recourse $638 million of net project finance debt within Energean Israel. Cash and undrawn facilities were $834 million.
Edison E&P (subject to closing)
• Energean is working to close its acquisition of Edison E&P as soon as possible in 2020, with approval from Italy anticipated shortly. Formal approvals from Egypt are expected soon after shareholder approval at the EGM.
• The acquisition is now expected to exclude the Algerian Asset. An update will be provided on the appropriate settlement on the total transaction consideration once this has been agreed.
• Exclusive of the Algeria, the UK North Sea and Norway, Edison E&P delivered Operating Cash Flow of $212 million during 2019. Capital expenditure was $61 million3.
• The updated Italian EIA approval on Cassiopea has been received by Edison E&P. The development is progressing as planned with First Gas expected in 2022.
• Exclusive of Algeria and the UK North Sea assets, 2019 average Working Interest production was 56 kboe/d (64 kboe/d inclusive of these assets).

Outlook

• Expected closing of the Edison E&P acquisition and subsequent sale of the North Sea assets to Neptune as soon as possible in 2020.
• Following successful appraisal of the 190 mmboe Karish North discovery, Energean expects to issue an updated CPR and Field Development Plan. Energean Final Investment Decision on the Karish North development is expected during 2020.
• Drilling of the Zeus exploration well plus two contingent exploration wells offshore Israel.
• The Energean Power FPSO hull is expected to sailaway from China in March 2020. FPSO sailaway from Singapore is still anticipated around Year End 2020.
• Strategic review of the Prinos Area assets initiated.
• 2020 pro forma group production4 is expected to be between 42.5 – 50.0 kboe/d5.
• 2020 pro forma consolidated group capital expenditure of $995 million6, of which $620 million is to be spent in Israel.
• Decisions on FID at Katakolo (Greece) and Drill or Drop on both Ioannina (Greece) and
Montenegro.

Edison E&P Acquisition

Energean is working actively to close its Acquisition of Edison E&P as soon as possible, with approval from Italy anticipated shortly. Formal approvals from Egypt are expected soon after EGM approval. As announced on 23 December 2019, the transaction is now expected to exclude the Algerian Asset; Energean will provide an update on the settlement to the total transaction consideration once this has been agreed. Energean does not expect the exclusion of the Algerian Asset from the transaction perimeter to affect its ability to close the transaction on the remainder of the assets.
Average Working Interest production from the Edison E&P portfolio during 2019 was 64.2 kboed:

Country 2019 Average Working Interest Production –
kboe/d7
Italy 10.4
Egypt 45.5
Croatia 0.5
Edison E&P Assets to be Acquired 56.4
Algeria 5.2
UK 2.5
Total 64.2

During 2019, Edison E&P delivered the following financial results. These results have been prepared on the basis of Edison E&P’s accounting policies and are subject to adjustments when included in Energean’s upcoming Circular and Prospectus.

Edison E&P
2019 – $ million		 Edison E&P exclusive UK North
Sea, Norway & Algeria
2019 – $ million
Revenue 531 433
Operating Costs 255 196
EBITDAX 276 237
Operating Cash Flow 252 212
Development and Production
Capital Expenditure		 136 33
Exploration Expenditure 49 28

In December 2019, ENI and Edison E&P received the renewal of the Italian EIA approval on Cassiopea. The development is now progressing in line with expectations, with first gas expected during 2022.
Gas has been converted to boe using a conversion factor of 5.8 mcf/boe. Numbers may not sum due to rounding. 

At 31 December 2019, net receivables (after provision for bad and doubtful debts) in Egypt were $222 million, of which $126 million were classified as overdue (31 December 2018: $240 million net receivables, of which $106 million were classified as overdue). A further payment for $55 million was received in January 2020.
The Ameeq well, which is being drilled on the North Thekah Offshore Block, spudded on 18 January 2020.
No material capex is expected to be incurred in Edison E&P before closing, except for committed exploration and sanctioned developments.

Reserves and Resources (exclusive of the Edison E&P portfolio)

Energean expects that year end 2019 Working Interest reserves and resources will be 554 million boe, a 38% increase on 2018 year end. The table below is preliminary and subject to finalisation.

Israel Greece Total
Oil
Mmbls		 Gas
Bcf		 Total
mmboe		 Oil
Mmbls		 Gas
Bcf		 Total
mmboe		 Oil
Mmbls		 Gas
Bcf		 Total
mmboe
Commercial Reserves
At 1 Jan 2019 22 1,558 298 49 5 49 71 1,563 347
Revisions 7 (99) (11) 5 2 6 12 (97) (5)
Production 0 (1) 0 (1) (1) 0 (1)
At 31 Dec 2019 29 1,460 287 53 7 54 82 1,466 341
Contingent Resources
At 1 Jan 2019 1 133 24 29 8 30 29 141 54
Revisions &
Discoveries 		27 618 136 18 25 23 45 643 159
At 31 Dec 2019 27 751 160 47 33 53 74 784 213
Total Commercial Reserves & Contingent Resources
1 Jan 2019 23 1,692 322 77 13 79 100 1,704 402
31 Dec 2019 56 2,211 448 100 40 106 156 2,250 554

Israel

Energean’s Karish development project remains on track to deliver first gas into the Israeli domestic market in 1H 2021. Physical progress on the project as of 31 December 2019 was 72% complete.

Gas Sales & Purchase Agreements (“GSPAs”)

In January 2020, Energean signed a further GSPA that will add between 0.1 and 0.2 Bcm/yr of contingent gas sales. Energean now has firm gas sales agreements in place for 5.0 bcm/yr on plateau. The new contingent agreement adds a further 0.2 Bcm/yr, I.P.M Beer Tuvia contingent contract adds a further 0.4 Bcm/yr (both contingent, inter alia, on the booking of additional reserves from Karish North or other sources), and Or adds 0.7 Bcm/yr, increasing total potential domestic GSPAs to 6.3 Bcm/yr. During 2020 a
further IEC power plant (Ramat Hovav) is expected to be privatised. Energean notes that the first privatisation (Alon Tavor), which was completed in 2019, resulted in a GSPA for Energean with MRC, the winning bidder.

Subject to finalisation of NSAI reports Israel reserves and resources shown at 70% working interest

In January 2020, Energean and the Public Gas Corporation of Greece (“DEPA”) signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) for the potential sale and purchase of 2 Bcm/yr of natural gas from Energean’s fields in Israel through the proposed East Med Pipeline. The LOI provides a further option to monetise future discoveries across Energean’s nine leases in Israel, with clear visibility on a path to filling the capacity of the FPSO and potentially leading to the need to expand the capacity of Energean’s infrastructure in Israel. The LOI was signed concurrently with the Intergovernmental Agreement on the East Med Pipeline, which has a proposed capacity of 10 Bcm/yr and will connect Greece, Israel and the Republic of Cyprus to Italy and the rest of the EU and is currently envisaged to be operational by 2025 subject to FID by the promoters of the pipeline, IGI Poseidon.
Key development activities for 2020

2020 Drilling Programme

Energean completed the drilling of the three Karish Main development wells during 2019. Completions are currently being run and the Christmas Trees are expected to be installed before end 1Q 2020. All three development wells will then be ready for integration with the Sub Sea infrastructure and Hook Up to the FPSO.
Energean expects to spud the Zeus exploration well, targeting 0.6 Tcf of Gas Initially in Place (“GIIP”) in March 2020. In addition to Zeus, Energean is preparing to drill two additional exploration wells during 2020, which will be contingent on the results from Zeus. Prospects being evaluated for drilling include Athena (0.6 Tcf GIIP, Block 12), Hera (0.4 Tcf GIIP, Block 12) and Poseidon (1.0 Tcf GIIP, Block 21). Following this campaign, the rig will be released to another operator, which will execute a 3-4 well campaign in the
region. Following this campaign, Energean intends to take the rig back for the remaining options under its drilling contract.
Following the Zeus exploration well, Energean has five remaining drilling options under its contract with Stena Drilling.
Exploration activities during the second half of 2020 will focus on the analysis of well results and the reprocessing, integration and evaluation of seismic data.
• FPSO Hull and Topsides The hull sailaway date from the Cosco Yard in China has been deferred to 31 March, a delay of 3.5 months.
However, excellent progress has been made on the topsides at the Admiralty Yard in Singapore and it is still anticipated that the integrated Hull and Topsides will sail away from Singapore to Israel around Year End 2020 with first gas from the project anticipated during 1H 2021.
• Subsea Installation and Pipeline
During 2020, all components of the subsea production system will be installed using vessels provided by TechnipFMC.
The sales gas pipeline will be installed with activities commencing close to shore in territorial waters and then moving progressively offshore towards the FPSO location.

Karish North

Energean expects to submit an updated Field Development Plan to address the tie-back of the 0.9 Tcf (25 Bcm) plus 34 mmbbls Karish North discovery in 1H 2020. A CPR is also expected during 1H 2020.

Greece

In Greece, total reserves and contingent resources have seen a 34% year-on-year increase, to 106 mmboe. This has resulted from the new discoveries in the Epsilon reservoir and reprocessing and interpretation of data at Katakolo.
Energean has decided to place its Prinos Area assets under strategic review. Investment in Prinos and Prinos North will remain limited whilst this work is concluded. Energean delivered average 2019 FY production of 3.3 kbopd. Due to limited investment resulting from the strategic review, 2020 production is expected to be in the range of 2.0 to 2.5 kbopd. The Energean Force remains smart-stacked in Phillipos Port; 2020 production from Prinos and Prinos North will be maintained through rig-less activities requiring
limited expenditure.
During 2019, all three Epsilon Lamda platform development wells were successfully drilled. As previously announced, additional pay was encountered in the deeper and dolomitic zones of the Epsilon reservoir.
This is expected to result in a reserve and contingent resource increase of 16 mmboe. The jacket for the Lamda platform is 80 – 85% complete in the Constanza shipyard.
At Katakolo, award of the EIA is expected in 2Q 2020 with potential Final Investment Decision thereafter.
Katakolo reserves are expected to be 14 mmbbls, a 33% increase on 2019.
The Underground Gas Storage project in South Kavala saw a positive development in 4Q 2019 when an amendment to the law was passed on 10 December. A paragraph was added at the end of article 93, making it possible for the Regulating Energy Authority to pass regulation on the tariff. This paves the way for a tender for the project, which is expected during 2020.

Exploration

In Ioannina, interpretation of the newly acquired seismic lines is ongoing and a drill-or-drop decision will be taken in 1H 2020. The quality of acquired seismic was a major improvement when compared to historic vintages and the lines have identified two prospective trends with multiple analogue prospects. Further, the new 2D seismic has verified the existing geological model, de-risking existing prospectivity. The seismic
lines were acquired with minimal environmental impact and Energean and the operator, Repsol, have agreed to plant trees in areas away from the 2D seismic lines.
In Aitoloakarnania, the operator, Repsol, is carrying out the necessary environmental studies in preparation for the 2D seismic acquisition campaign, which is expected to commence in 2Q 2020, subject to permitting.

In Montenegro, a number of shallow gas prospects and deeper carbonate prospects have been identified through interpretation of the newly acquired seismic data. Energean is awaiting final data in order to confirm the primary prospect. The Ministry of Economy in Montenegro confirmed that Energean will receive an extension to the first exploration phase to 15 March 2021, with a drill-or-drop decision by year end 2020.

Financial and Corporate Update

Guidance is provided in relation to Energean’s full year reporting to 31 December 2019 in advance of the Group’s Full Year Results release on 19 March 2020. Guidance figures have not been audited and may be subject to further review and amendment.

2019
Total Revenue ($ million) 76
Cost of Production ($ million) 26
EBITDAX ($ million) 36
Operating Cash Flow ($ million) 32
Development & Production Capital Expenditure ($
million)
Israel ($ million) 597
Greece ($ million) 63
Total ($ million) 660
Exploration Capital Expenditure ($ million)
Israel ($ million) 47
Greece ($ million) 9
Montenegro ($million) 5
Total ($ million) 61
Total Net Debt ($ million) 557
Net Debt – Israel ($ million) 638
Cash and Undrawn Facilities ($ million)10 834
Israel – Cash ($ million) 110
Israel – Undrawn Facilities ($ million) 445
Ex Israel – Cash ($ million) 244
Ex Israel – Undrawn Facilities ($ million) 35

Excluding the $600 million acquisition bridge

2020 Pro Forma Guidance

2020
Production
Egypt (kboe/d) 32 – 37
Italy (kboe/d) 8 – 10
Greece (kboe/d) 2 – 2.5
Croatia (kboe/d) 0.5
Total Pro Forma Production (kboe/d) 42.5 – 50.0
Operating Costs ($ million) 225 – 250
Development and Production Capital Expenditure
– Israel ($ million) 590
– Egypt ($ million) 10012
– Italy ($ million) 120
– Greece ($ million) 65
– Croatia ($ million) 10
Total ($ million) 885
Exploration Capital Expenditure (Firm)
– Israel ($ million) 40
– Egypt ($ million) 60
– Italy ($ million) –
– Greece ($ million) 10
– Croatia ($ million) –
– Other ($ million) –
Total ($ million) 110

 

ELPE-Edison granted extra 18 months for troubled Patras license

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Hellenic Petroleum ELPE, the local partner of Gulf of Patras license in western Greece, has been granted an 18-month extension to complete second-phase work at the license. Project delays have been attributed to inadequate port infrastructure and bureaucracy.

ELPE, joined by Edison as a consortium partner for this hydrocarbon project, requested more time to complete the second phase, including exploratory drilling.

The consortium was expected to conduct its first drilling operation at the Gulf of Patras license this year but has been slowed down by insufficient port facilities at the regional Patras and Astakos ports, as well as environmental licensing procedures, according to sources.

ELPE and Edison require adequate port facilities, including storage, to ship in the project’s drilling equipment.

The Gulf of Patras drilling operation is seen as a project that could prompt further hydrocarbon investments, especially if this field’s probable oil deposit, estimated at 140 million barrels, is confirmed.

Bureaucracy and a lack of strategic planning for development of the country’s upstream sector has kept investors at a distance, oil company officials and industry experts have repeatedly noted over a number of years

The regional infrastructure’s inability to serve this venture’s needs has frustrated officials. The Gulf of Patras tender was launched back in 2012.

A previous extension had given the ELPE-Edison consortium until April 2, 2018 to complete the project’s second phase. This deadline has now been extended to October, 2, 2021.

 

ELPE’s Gulf of Patras drilling delayed until ’21, red tape cited

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Exploratory drilling by ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum) at its Gulf of Patras license in western Greece will be delayed until 2021 instead of the first quarter of 2020, as was officially planned, or, late 2020, the unofficial target, primarily as a result of bureaucratic obstacles, according to updates offered by company officials at an EAGE (European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers) event just held in Athens.

The Gulf of Patras license was awarded to a consortium comprising ELPE and Edison through an open-door tender launched in 2012 and completed in 2014. Energean Oil and Gas is also involved as a result of its recent acquisition of Edison’s E&P.

The license area, situated between Kefalonia, Achaia and Etoloakarnania, measures 1,419 square kilometers.

Preliminary research work has been completed, identifying wider areas to be explored, including specific drilling spots.

The delay of a concession agreement for a port in the wider region, needed to facilitate drilling needs, has held back the venture.

ELPE has, so far, unsuccessfully sought concession agreements with four ports, Patras, Kyllini, Aigio and Astakos.

Any port that would accept heavy drilling equipment needs to have included such activities in its official operating plan. The detail has prompted bureaucratic issues for ELPE in its effort to secure a port facility.

The project is a high-cost venture as it will be performed in deep-sea territory. Preliminary estimates put the size of the prospective reserves at 140 million barrels.

 

Energean appoints Non-Executive Chairman, Ind. Non-Executive Director

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Energean Oil and Gas, the oil and gas producer focused on the Mediterranean, has announce the appointment of Karen Simon (photo), currently Independent Non-Executive Director, as Non-Executive Chairman, replacing Simon Heale, who has retired; and Amy Lashinsky as Independent Non-Executive Director, all effective on 21 November 2019.

Karen Simon is newly retired from J.P. Morgan as a Vice Chairman in the Investment Bank with over 35 years of corporate finance experience with the firm.

Most recently, Ms. Simon headed up Director Advisory Services, a newly established client service at J.P. Morgan focused on public company directors.

From 2004 to 2016, Ms. Simon worked with private equity firms in J.P. Morgan’s Financial Sponsor Coverage group and was promoted to head the European group in 2007 and the North American group in 2013.

Ms. Simon held a number of other senior positions previously, including Co-Head of EMEA Debt Capital Markets and Head of EMEA Oil & Gas coverage.

Ms. Simon spent 20 years of her career working in London and is a dual US/UK citizen. She currently sits on the boards of Aker ASA in Oslo, an industrial investment company, and the Texas Woman’s Foundation, a non-profit charity focused on the needs of underprivileged girls and women across Texas.

Ms. Simon graduated from the University of Colorado and has Masters degrees from Southern Methodist University and from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Karen Simon, Non-Executive Director and new Chairman, remarked:

“It is a privilege for me to step up as Chairman at Energean, a company with a clear strategy, a strong and growing asset base and a focused, diverse and professional team. I look forward to working closely with colleagues to drive the business forward and create value for our shareholders as we execute our transition fuel strategy. On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Simon [Heale] for his significant contribution to Energean and the entire Energean team offers Simon all best wishes for the future.”

Simon Heale, non-executive Chairman, noted:

“Karen Simon has made a significant contribution to Energean since she became a Non-Executive Director in 2017 and I leave Energean in excellent hands, with listings in London and Tel Aviv, a significant development in Israel and a growing reserves and production base in the Mediterranean. With its gas-weighted strategy and portfolio, Energean is well-placed to address the many challenges and opportunities ahead. It has been an honor to serve on the Board and I wish Energean every success, going forward.”

Amy Lashinsky, the new independent Non-Executive Director, is a co-founder of Alaco, the international risk management company, and a member of its Board.

Ms Lashinsky trained as a securities analyst on Wall Street before joining Kroll in New York in 1985. She moved to London in 1988 to help establish Kroll’s first overseas office where she became Managing Director of its business intelligence unit.

In 1995 Ms. Lashinsky set up Asmara Limited, which was sold to NYSE-listed Armor Holdings in 1998, before founding Alaco in 2002.  Ms Lashinsky graduated from the University of Michigan.

Energean releases trading update covering recent activity

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Energean Oil and Gas, the oil and gas producer focused on the Mediterranean, has released the following trading update for the period from 30 June 2019 to 12 November 2019.

Highlights

Transaction Update:

  • On track to complete the Edison E&P acquisition around year end 2019 (“Acquisition Completion”). The onward sale of Edison E&P’s UK and Norwegian subsidiaries to Neptune Energy is on track to complete as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter.
  • Refinancing of the $600 million committed bridge facility with a Reserve Based Lending (“RBL”) facility progressing well; expected to be in place in 4Q 2019, before Acquisition Completion.

Operational:

  • On track to deliver first gas from the Karish Development in early 2021.
  • Completed the drilling of the three development wells required to deliver first gas from Karish.
  • Karish North appraisal confirmed best estimate recoverable resource volumes of 0.9 Tcf (25 Bcm) plus 34 MMbbls of light oil / condensate (combined c.190 mmboe).
  • Signed a Term Sheet with MRC Alon Tavor Power, Ltd., the winning bidder of the Alon Tavor tender, which could add a further 0.5 Bcm/yr of firm gas sales.

Outlook:

  • Committed to drilling the Zeus exploration well in Block 12, Israel, targeting 0.6 Tcf.
  • Full year production guidance maintained at 3,400 – 3,600 bopd.
  • At 30 September 2019, Energean had cash and undrawn debt facilities of $1.6 billion.  

Acquisition of Edison E&P

Energean remains on track to complete the acquisition of Edison E&P, announced on 4 July 2019, around year end 2019 and Edison E&P continues to perform in line with expectations. Energean is progressing the necessary regulatory approvals. To date, approvals have been received in France, Norway and Greece. Approvals are outstanding, and expected shortly, in Italy, Egypt, Algeria and the UK.

The $600 Bridge Loan is expected to be replaced with a reserve-based lending facility before Acquisition Completion. The process is progressing in line with expectations.

Disposal of UK North Sea & Norway Assets to Neptune Energy

Energean remains on track to complete the sale of Edison E&P’s UK and Norwegian subsidiaries to Neptune Energy, as announced on 14 October 2019. The sale is contingent on Acquisition Completion and is expected to close as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter.

Israel – Karish and Tanin Development

Energean’s Karish and Tanin development project remains on track to deliver first gas into the Israeli domestic market in 2021. During the period, Energean met its key milestones of completing the drilling of the three development wells required to deliver first gas from Karish, appraising the Karish North Discovery and launch of the Energean Power FPSO hull.

Israel – Drilling

As announced on 4 November 2019, Energean has now completed sidetrack appraisal operations at Karish North, confirming best estimate recoverable resources of 0.9 Tcf (25 BCM) plus 34 million barrels of light oil / condensate (combined c.190 mmboe), significantly enhancing Energean’s discovered resource volumes across its Karish and Tanin leases.

Low, Best and High case estimated resources are outlined in the table below. The remaining volumetric uncertainty is largely associated with thinly bedded sections of the reservoir in the B Sand Unit. This potential will be confirmed via acquisition of a core from this section, which is expected to be achieved when the well is completed as a producer.

Low Case Best Estimate High Case
GIIP (Tcf) 1.1 1.3 1.8
GIIP (BCM) 30.0 35.6 51.6
Recoverable Gas (Tcf) 0.7 0.9 1.4
Recoverable Gas (BCM) 19.5 24.9 38.7
Recoverable Liquids (MMbbls) 25.2 34.2 55.0

 

The Karish North Discovery will be developed via a tie-back to the Energean Power FPSO, which will be located 5.4 kilometers away and is being built with 8 Bcm/yr (775 mmcf/d) of capacity. Future GSPAs will target both the growing domestic market and key regional export markets.

As planned, the Stena DrillMax has now moved to complete the three Karish Main development wells. Following completion of these wells, Energean has elected to drill the Zeus exploration well, which is targeting 0.6 Tcf of Gas Initially In Place (“GIIP”) across three reservoir intervals. Zeus is located in Block 12, between the Karish and Tanin leases, and a discovery would be commercialised through the Energean Power FPSO. The Zeus exploration well is expected to cost $35 million (gross).

Energean is assessing options for the remaining five drilling options available under its contract with Stena.

Israel – Commercial

In December 2018, Energean signed a GSPA with I.P.M Beer Tuvia Ltd. (“I.P.M.”) to supply an estimated 5.5 Bcm (c. 0.2 Tcf) of gas over the life of the contract. The contract is contingent, inter alia, on the results of Energean’s 2019 drilling programme and the results from the Karish North exploration well and appraisal sidetrack well significantly increase the likelihood of it becoming unconditional. Inclusive of the I.P.M contract, Energean’s firm contracted gas sales are equivalent to 4.7 Bcm/yr.

Energean has also recently signed a detailed term sheet with MRC Alon Tavor Power, Ltd., the winning bidder in the IEC Alon Tavor tender process. If, as is the express intention of the parties, this is converted into a GSPA, this will add c.0.5 Bcm/year (48 mmcf/d).

Finally, Energean also has a conditional GSPA with Or Power Energies (Dalia) Ltd. (“Or”), which is contingent, inter alia, on certain conditions precedent. The contract is for c.0.7 Bcm/yr (68 mmcf/d). It should be noted that, in common with other GSPAs in Israel where Energean is the seller, Or has an unlimited ability to dispose of gas for alternative end uses.

The weighted average contract price was US$4.22/mmbtu as of 30 September 2019 based on the Israeli electricity production component index, Brent oil price and exchange rates as of that date.

Greece – Prinos Area

Production in the year to 30 September 2019 was 3,577 bopd. Full year production guidance is maintained at 3,400 – 3,600 bopd. Energean’s review of capital allocation is ongoing.

The Epsilon Platform Development remains on track to deliver first oil in 2H 2020.

Additional activities

At Katakolo, legacy 3D seismic re-processing has been finalised in parallel with application for necessary environmental permits. Analysis suggests significant upside to in place volumes. A decision on whether to farm down or take Final Investment Decision will be taken after the results from this analysis have been finalised.

In Ioannina, 2D seismic acquisition has been completed and interpretation is ongoing. In Aitokarnania, activities are focused on the re-processing of existing data and preparation for the new seismic campaign, which is scheduled to start before year end.

In Montenegro, processing and interpretation of the recently acquired 3D seismic survey is ongoing. Results are anticipated before year end 2019. 

Financial Update

Energean recorded revenues of $52.4 million in the 9 months to 30 September 2019, (1Q-3Q 2018:  US$55.4 million). Unit cost of production was $19.8/bbl and Energean maintains Full Year Guidance of $20/bbl.

Revised capital expenditure guidance is shown in the table below. Development capex is reduced by $25 million on expected timing.  Exploration capital expenditure in increased by $8 – 23 million due to the inclusion of the Karish North sidetrack and preparatory activities for the Zeus exploration well, which is expected to be drilled during 2020.

Revised Full Year 2019 Capital Expenditure Guidance

$m

 Previous Full Year 2019 Capital Expenditure Guidance

$m
Prinos & Epsilon 70 – 80 70 – 80
Israel – Development 625 650
Total Development & Production Capital Expenditure 695 – 705 720 – 730
Israel Exploration 65 45 – 55
Western Greece 7 – 8 5 – 10
Montenegro 5 5
Total Exploration 77 – 78 55 – 70

 

At 30 September 2019, Energean had net debt of $348.6 million. Gross cash was $393.1 million, offset by $741.7 million of borrowings. As at this date, Energean had $36 million remaining undrawn under its Greece RBL facility, $615 million under the $1.275 billion Karish-Tanin project finance facility and $600 million of debt available under the committed Bridge Facility.

Energean has no crude oil hedges outstanding.

20th Cippe, major petroleum industry event, in Beijing March 26-28

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The 20th China International Petroleum & Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition (cippe2020) will be held on March 26-28, 2020 at the New China International Exhibition Center in Beijing.

For its 20th edition, cippe2020 is once again inviting global industry giants to showcase latest petroleum equipment and technologies, as well as discuss the latest trends in the industry with experts and professional buyers from all over the world.

cippe2020 will continue to expand its scale by providing seven halls and eight exhibiting zones, focusing on technologies and equipment of petroleum & petrochemical, natural gas, offshore oil & gas, offshore engineering, pipelines & storage, shale gas, as well as explosion-proof instruments and oilfield soil remediation.

In response to the national strategy for clean energy development and transformation to promote energy consumption, a new hall will be dedicated to showcasing natural gas and shale gas.

An Event Gathering Global Giants

As the world’s leading petroleum & petrochemical equipment event, cippe is an annual gathering of leading petroleum & petrochemical companies in the world. International exhibitors will include ExxonMobil, Rosneft, Gazprom, Transneft, Caterpillar, NOV, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, GE, Cameron, Honeywell, Philips, Schneider, Dow Chemical, Rockwell, Cummins, Emerson, AkzoNobel, API, 3M, E+H, MTU, ARIEL, KSB, Tyco, Atlas Copco, Forum, Huisman, Sandvik, AKSA, HEMPEL, etc.

Domestic exhibitors will include CNPC, Sinopec, CNOOC, CSSC, CSIC, CASC, AVIC, Jereh, Honghua, CIMC Raffles, Kerui, RG Petro-Machinery Group, Sany Group, NHI, CITIC HIC, CITIC Pacific, etc.

Various Concurrent Events

As a global display platform, cippe is keen on promoting the exhibition effectiveness and providing communication opportunities for the exhibitors. Therefore, cippe2020 will hold many concurrent events including the cippe Gold Innovation Award, the 12th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Summit, International Petroleum and Petrochemical Technology Conference 2020, cippe2020 Embassy (Oil & Gas) Promotion Conference. In addition, special events such as one-on-one purchasing meeting–cippe2020 Business Matchmaking Meeting, technical exchange meetings and product launching conferences will also be held.

Currently, the cippe2020 organizing committee is visiting major oil producing countries such as Russia, the United States, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Canada, Iran, Brazil and the United Kingdom to invite more global professional buyers.

Contacts:

cippe2020 Organizing Committee

For Exhibitors

Mona Wang, 86-10-56176968

cippe@vip.163.com

cippe@zhenweiexpo.com

For Visitors

Yolanda Zhao, 86-10-56176962

yolanda@zhenweiexpo.com

Repsol-Energean given extra year for Ioannina license preliminary stage

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A consortium comprising Repsol and Energean Oil & Gas has been granted a one-year extension by EDEY, the Greek Hydrocarbon Management Company, to complete preliminary exploration work at an onshore license in the wider region of Ioannina, northwestern Greece.

Repsol, controlling a 60 percent stake in the consortium, and Energean, holding 40 percent stake, requested an additional year until October 2, 2020, to complete preliminary exploration work at the license.

This is the second deadline extension granted to Repsol-Energean for the license’s preliminary phase. A first extension, granted in 2017, expires next month. The consortium is currently processing new seismic data.

The EDEY extension decision also requires the consortium to complete a second exploration phase, involving deep drilling, by October 2, 2022, should the partners decide to pursue the license further.

The license location’s geological features, featuring rocky terrain, are considered challenging. Also, the two companies have faced resistance, at times extreme, from small groups representing local communities while conducting their seismic research and related activities. The support of local landowners exceeds 90 percent, which has enabled the completion of research work in recent weeks.

Major upstream players meet at EPOCH congress in Thessaloniki

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Over 100 companies participated at the Exploration and Production Offshore Congress Hub (EPOCH) Congress, a two-day event held September 16 and 17 in Thessaloniki.

The event, a closed-door congress supported by Greek and international media and co-hosted by Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), drew keynote speakers who covered both the business and technical sides concerning the developing markets of the Mediterranean and offshore West Africa.

Over the event’s two days, major players of the upstream industry, representing E&P companies, EPC contractors, drilling contractors, service providers & equipment manufacturers, shared their experience and views on the current situation in regions and presented solutions, cases and technologies to overcome these challenges.

Besides discussions, delegates also established new business contacts and held preliminary talks for further cooperation.

The first day of the event began with presentations highlighting new challenges, opportunities and strategies across the Mediterranean region, while the second day’s plenary session was devoted to an overview of the West African offshore region and its current performance.

The keynote speakers at EPOCH were: Dr Abdelarahim Mohamed – Board Director for Exploration & Production of National Oil Corporation of Libya; Yannis Bassias – President & CEO of Hellenic Hydrocarbon Resources Management; Kees Jongepier – VP Exploration of Aker Energy AS; Chijioke Akwukwuma – CEO of Ocean Deep Drilling ESV Nigeria Limited (ODENL); Dr. Jörg Köhli – Senior Expert – Head of Upstream Oil and Gas of European Commission; Christophe Souillart – BD Director Africa, Mediterranean and Southern Europe of Subsea 7; and Henry Okolie-Aboh – Founder & CEO of Westfield Energy Resources Limited.

Four hydrocarbon licenses taken to parliament, interest in new areas

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The energy ministry has submitted to parliament four draft bills for the approval of as many offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses near Crete and in the Ionian Sea.

The imminent approval of these agreements, negotiated between 2015 and 2019, will enhance Greece’s ability to attract foreign investments in the developing hydrocarbon sector, the ministry noted in a statement. The bills were delivered to parliament yesterday.

Exploration-related investments for the four licenses are expected to reach 140 million euros, create jobs and support local communities, according to the ministry’s statement. The recently elected government is striving to project Greece as a business and investment-friendly country.

Agreements for two offshore licenses southwest and west of Crete were signed in June between the Greek State and a consortium comprising Total, ExxonMobil and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE).

These were preceded by two agreements signed several months earlier, in April – one for an offshore block in the Ionian Sea, whose rights were acquired by a two-member consortium made up of Repsol and ELPE; the other, for a block west of the Peloponnese, secured by ELPE, the sole participant.

Investors are also believed to be interested in new areas for hydrocarbon exploration.

Ratification of Cretan, western offshore licenses just days away

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Parliamentary approval of offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses awarded for four fields west and southwest of Crete as well as Greece’s west is now just days away.

The submission of all four licenses to Greek Parliament by this Friday for ratification is seen as a very likely prospect.

The related draft bill carrying the four licenses will essentially represent the recently appointed energy ministry’s first legislative act.

A consortium comprised of Total, ExxonMobil and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) has been awarded two licenses for blocks west and southwest of Crete. Repsol and ELPE were the winning bidders of a tender for a block in the Ionian Sea.

Tenders for these three licenses were held following interest expressed in 2017.

ELPE is the sole participant in a license awarded for Block 10 northwest of the Peloponnese, following a tender launched in 2014.

Scientific surveys have confirmed many geological similarities between the two Cretan offshore blocks and southeast Mediterranean natural gas fields that have produced major discoveries such as Egypt’s Zohr, Cyprus’ Aphrodite and Israel’s Leviathan.

A clearer picture on the prospects of the Greek fields is expected in  eight years, the amount of time it should take to complete related exploration work. A first drilling operation is expected towards the end of this eight-year effort.

The presence of ExxonMobil and Total signals heightened US and French hydrocarbon interest in the wider southeast Mediterranean region.

Industry experts believe ratification of the four Greek licenses will spark further upstream developments in the wider region, including Greece. Preparations are underway for more offshore licenses, especially south of Crete, according to some sources.

Hydrocarbon, PPC, DEPA draft bills to follow Thessaloniki Fair

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Energy minister Costas Hatzidakis’ team and related departments are busy preparing three draft bills for submission to parliament, one by one, by October, following this year’s Thessaloniki International Fair, to take place September 7 to 15.

The first of these three draft bills concerns the approval of hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses in offshore areas west and southwest of Crete, involving a consortium comprising Total, ExxonMobil and Hellenic Petroleum ELPE; an Ionian Sea license involving Repsol and ELPE; and Block 10, west of the Peloponnese, for which ELPE is the sole holder.

The US Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey R. Pyatt, made reference to the licenses yesterday as a means of underlining the investment interest in the sector of US firms, including ExxonMobil.

The second draft bill to be tabled in parliament will detail operational revisions at power utility PPC. Hatzidakis, the energy minister, has noted the state-controlled power utility needs to rely less on the Greek State and compete on equal terms with rivals. The power utility draft bill will alter how PPC stages various auctions concerning supply and services. These auctions are strictly regulated by state terms.

A third draft bill, expected to be delivered to parliament within October, will nullify the previous Syriza government’s privatization plan for gas utility DEPA. It entailed splitting the utility into DEPA Trade and DEPA Infrastructure ahead of the sale of respective majority and minority stakes.

The recently elected New Democracy government appears determined to pursue a more aggressive DEPA privatization policy offering majority stakes in both the utility’s distribution network and trading interests.

 

 

 

 

 

Ratification of hydrocarbon licenses within August

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Four offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses signed by three groups of investors for areas off Crete, in the Ionian Sea and west of the Peloponnese are expected to be ratified in Greek Parliament within the next few days, possibly before the end of August, energypress sources have informed.

These licenses are significant for the reputation of the recently elected conservative New Democracy party, keen to underline its willingness to cooperate in the energy sector and draw major investments to the country.

Oil majors are involved. France’s Total heads a consortium that includes US giant ExxonMobil and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) for the two licenses off Crete, south and southwest of the island.

ELPE has joined forces with Spain’s Repsol for a license in the Ionian Sea, while ELPE is the sole participant in the offshore license west of the Peloponnese.

Greek energy minister Costis Hatzidakis, in talks with US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon earlier this month, pledged the licenses would soon be ratified in parliament.

A swift ratification procedure by the new government would send out a positive message to international investors.

More than €3bn invested during crisis, ELPE Upstream chief tells

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Hellenic Petroleum ELPE’s Upstream S.A. CEO  Yannis Grigoriou was interviewed for the 3rd episode of BGS Talks Youtube show, discussing, with Regina Chislova, Project Director of Exploration and Production Offshore Congress Hub EPOCH 2019, offshore exploration in Greece; relations between the company and the Greek government; cooperation with ExxonMobil and Total; investments during the crisis and other topics. Excerpts, provided by the BGS Group, follow below. The full interview is available on BGS Talks Youtube channel.

“Regina Chislova: In general, let us list the most important projects happening in the region right now.

Yannis Grigoriou: I think what is going on around Cyprus is very interesting, the big majors are there… I think that over the next days we will have some positive announcements. The licensing round of Egypt was a success for the country…And, in Greece, we are signing the lease agreement for two huge offshore blocks around Crete together with Total and Exxon Mobil.

R.C: Could you give us more details on this project, since the majors came to the region.

Y.G: We have geological concepts in our mind. It was almost three years ago, when we had in our hands some multi-client seismic data sold by PGS. We were looking at those and trying to interpret the complex geology of the area…So we worked on that for 2 or 3 months and then we discussed it with Total…We thought: “Let’s form a joint venture to go further on that.” We did that and then we thought again “We need another company to join us” and…we approached Exxon Mobil. In autumn 2016, we created a very strong joint venture for the exploration in the country – Total 40% operator, Exxon Mobil 40%, and ELPE 20%. Following negotiations and other things we are set to sign the lease agreements for these 2 blocks which are really big and very promising.”

“R.C: The country suffered from an enormous crisis. How has the oil and gas industry survived?

Y.G: At ELPE, we survived the crisis because we invested more than €3 billion in building a brand new refinery near Athens and also upgraded our refineries. As the group mostly consists of the downstream oriented group, these investments, first of all, created a number of jobs. We had an opportunity to produce high-quality products according to the strictest EU specifications, which we exported to nearby countries – to Italy, France; we are exporting petrochemicals to Turkey. So, we overcame the Greek crisis by exporting products. We have experienced high profits over the last 3 years…Our profits on an EBITDA basis are almost €800-900 million, which gives us an opportunity for further growth and investments in other business opportunities like upstream or renewables. The export of renewables is also the next pillar for growth for the company.”

“R.C: The principle of your company is “we operate with responsibility towards society and the environment”. Can you elaborate?

Y.G: Health, safety and environment is our first principle for all the company’s activities. We are trying our best, in all our activities, to protect the health of our employees, the health of the local communities, and their safety and the environment. At a recent Gulf of Patras project, for example, where we conducted a 3D seismic survey, we did so in compliance with environmental regulations and special attention to the dolphins.

“R.C: How do you approach your team as a senior-level manager?

Y.G: If I say “as a friend” perhaps there would be misunderstanding in the whole group, but the way we work is like that. We are not a kindergarten. Perhaps, if you ask them, they might tell you that I’m a very strict boss and I push them to the end. But we set goals – sometimes difficult ones – and all of us work together to achieve them.”

Watch the full interview on BGS Talks Youtube channel for insight into why Yannis Grigoriou thinks it is possible to discover fields the size of Zohr in the Greek offshore area; how to cope with failure, and other matters.  

 

Total seeking buyer for its 50% stake in Block 2, west of Corfu

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French oil and gas multinational Total appears to be preparing to sell its 50 percent stake in an offshore license west of Corfu, Block 2, preferring instead to focus on other hydrocarbon interests in Greece, west and southwest of Crete.

Total, the operator of Corfu’s Block 2 license, established a consortium for this venture with Edison and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), each holding 25 percent stakes.

This license was signed in October, 2017 following the launch of a tender in 2014 that offered a total of 20 offshore blocks in the Ionian Sea and south of Crete.

Total is in partnership with US major ExxonMobil and ELPE for its licenses west and southwest of Crete.

Recent activity in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – an area in which Total has joined forces with Italy’s Eni to take on Block 7 – as well as developments in the wider eastern Mediterranean, has turned the French oil and gas giant’s attention to this region, sources told energypress.

Further changes are expected in the Greek market. ELPE is believed to be seeking partners for exploration and production licenses it has acquired alone.

 

Edison agrees to sell exploration and production to Energean

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Italian energy giant Edison has announced the signing of a sale and purchase agreement with Energean Oil and Gas to sell the 100% of Edison Exploration and Production (E&P) and its subsidiaries in the hydrocarbons exploration and production business (oil and natural gas). The Edison Board of Directors approved the transaction yesterday.
The price of the transaction is based on an enterprise value of USD 750 million, with an additional consideration of USD 100 million contingent on the commissioning of Cassiopea development gas project in Italy.

Additionally, Edison will be entitled to royalties associated with further potential developments in Egypt that would bring the aggregate value close to USD 1 billion. The transaction also includes the transferring to the buyer of all Edison future decommissioning obligations.

Edison Exploration and Production manages all of Edison’s activities, mining titles and corporate shareholdings in the hydrocarbons business in Italy and abroad. In particular, Edison E&P owns a portfolio of approximately 90 licences in 9 countries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, corresponding to approximately 49,000 barrels per day of net entitlement production as December 31, 2018.

Following the transaction, considering the first half 2019 developments, in particular in terms of regulations as well as brent and gas market trends, and the contractual terms currently being finalized, a 400-500 million euros writedown at Group level is expected.

Edison’s Board of Directors has reserved the right to perform suitable analyses to evaluate the possible capital surplus with respect to the guarantee requirements it is
called upon to meet, considering that the transaction means exiting from a highly volatile and capital-intensive segment, with a higher risk profile than Edison’s other strategic businesses.

This is with a view to possibly reducing the ordinary capital to an extent of covering prior losses as well as those that will be recorded in the 2019 financial statements.
Energean Oil and Gas, a London Premium Listed FTSE 250 and Tel Aviv Listed E&P company with operations offshore Israel, Greece and the Adriatic, has committed to guaranteeing a future of development for the E&P business area and its employees, being the ideal operator to unleash all the potential of the business.

The workforce employed by Edison Exploration and Production amounts to 282 people as June 30, 2019.

Edison Exploration and Production counts also to the staff of the Egyptian Operating Company Abu Qir Petroleum (AQP). With regard to the acquired personnel, Energean Oil and Gas is committed to ensuring certain protections, taking into account the specific regulatory conditions governing the employment rules and
the existing market practices in the various countries.

The closing of the transaction with Energean Oil and Gas is expected to take place by the end of 2019 and it is subject to conditions for transactions of this kind, including Italian Economic Development Ministry approval.

The financial resources deriving from this transaction will support Edison’s strategic development plan, which envisages very significant investments in Italy in the 2019-2021 three-year period intended mainly for sustainable production from renewable sources and gas, as well as the strengthening of the Company’s activities in retail market and energy efficiency services.

Edison has a target to produce by 2030 40% of its energy from green sources and an emissions target of 0.26 kilogrammes of CO2 per kilowatt hour produced. In this way Edison contributes effectively to the energy transition providing Italy with a balanced production mix, able to guarantee the security and flexibility of the country’s energy system.

Edison, with 91 hydroelectric power stations (of which 53 mini-hydroelectric), 45 wind farms and 65 photovoltaic power plants, has an installed capacity in Italy of 1,900 megawatts in renewable sources, with more than 4,000 gigawatt hours of electricity generated in 2018 (21% of the Company’s total electricity production, of which 3,000 gigawatt hours from hydroelectric power plants and 1,000 gigawatt hours from
wind farms).

Investors will ‘abandon Crete blocks if discoveries not significant’

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Two offshore blocks west and southwest of Crete, licensed out just days ago to a three-member consortium comprised of Total (40%), ExxonMobil (40%) and Hellenic Petroleum-ELPE (20%), promise far greater production potential than blocks further north in the Ionian Sea, but investors will leave if these Cretan blocks do not offer significant output, a top-ranked official has noted.

Investors will abandon their efforts if a production target of at least 500 million barrels is not reached as the investment costs are considerable, Yiannis Basias, the head official at EDEY, the Greek Hydrocarbon Management Company, told state-run radio Proto Programma.

He denounced environmental concerns being expressed, describing these as inexplicable, “unless the intention is to stop the exploration activity altogether.”

Hydrocarbon companies spend vast amounts of money to ensure the avoidance of problems as, besides affecting the environment, local economy and health of individuals, any accident would also instantly blacklist companies and trouble their futures, the EDEY chief highlighted.

Sizable discoveries promise to greatly change Greece’s image and standing in the southeast Mediterranean region, Basias remarked, adding that the country’s economy would gain some balance for a less burdensome future.

At present, economic gains generated by tourism are immediately offset by costs concerning  natural gas and crude costs, the EDEY chief said.

PM to attend Cretan block signing ceremony, reshuffling in west

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A signing ceremony scheduled to take place tomorrow for hydrocarbon exploration and production rights concerning at least one of two offshore Cretan blocks will be attended by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whose speech is expected to emphasize Greece’s effort to utilize the country’s mineral wealth and also project a message opposing Turkey’s provocative behavior in the southeast Mediterranean.

The energy ministry will sign an agreement tomorrow with a three-member consortium comprised of ExxonMobil, Total and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) for an offshore license west of Crete.

A second block, situated adjacently southwest of Crete, could also be signed by the two sides tomorrow. But it still needs to be endorsed by a local authority, making the prospect highly unlikely.

Both agreements will first need to be approved by Greek Parliament before exploration work commences. A first phase of exploratory survey work is planned to last three years. If the feedback is favorable, drilling activities will follow after 2022, according to current plans.

Meanwhile, consortiums that have secured licenses for blocks in western Greece are moving to reshuffle their line-ups, energypress sources have reported.

This activity, a common occurrence in the global oil industry, has been attributed to maneuvering by multinationals for moves to blocks seen offering better prospects as well as efforts to seek additional partners for investment cost sharing.

Greece’s geopolitical role and blocks are gaining stature on the international map amid all this activity.

EDEY aims to offer complete Crete portfolio with new areas to next gov’t

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EDEY, the Greek Hydrocarbon Management Company, is striving to have completed all preliminary work for new licenses off Crete so that Greece’s next government can be handed a complete portfolio ready for licensing procedures when it begins its tenure following the snap elections on July 7.

The country’s next administration will need to push ahead with new hydrocarbon projects.

EDEY is currently working on environmental studies concerning new areas south of Crete, which the company intends to offer to investors for exploration and production.

Their features differ to those of two offshore licenses already secured by a three-member consortium comprised of ExxonMobil, Total and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), west and southwest of Crete.

The new areas south of Crete had been swept aside in previous procedures but new scientific data has revitalized the interest of investors.

A signing ceremony for one of the two Cretan hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses, west of Crete, will be staged this Thursday, the ExxonMobil- Total-ELPE consortium has been informed.

The second license, southwest of Crete, may also be added to Thursday’s signing ceremony. However, its finalized version still needs to be formally presented, meaning investors will most probably need to wait until after Greece’s snap elections for this license to be signed.

Crete offshore licenses a step away from finalization

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A decision by the Court of Audit, one of Greece’s highest ranking courts, approving two hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses for offshore blocks south and west of Crete to a consortium comprised of Total, ExxonMobil and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) paves the way for the signing of finalized agreements.

This could take place at a signing ceremony on Crete prior to the July 7 snap elections with the participation of energy minister Giorgos Stathakis.

The three companies, keen to begin exploration activities before the end of the year, have urged the government for a swift completion of procedures.

The two agreements will still need to be ratified in Parliament following next month’s general elections before the three-member consortium can commence work.

The Court of Audit’s favorable decision represents one of the final steps in a procedure started in 2017, when Total and ExxonMobil had expressed interest.

 

Heightened activity, consortium reshuffling as drilling nears

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Following a wider trend observed in the southeast Mediterranean, consortiums holding hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses in Greek territory are moving to reshuffle their line-ups, especially for blocks in the Ionian Sea, as the first local drilling operations in decades draw nearer, energypress sources have informed.

The reshuffling activity, which has not involved blocks off Crete, has been attributed to a search by multinationals for additional partners in consortiums established with Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) as a means of reducing high costs demanded by deep-water exploration in the Ionian Sea.

ELPE holds exploration and production rights for various blocks in the Ionian Sea through consortiums established with Total, Edison and Repsol.

Video Data Rooms have been set up to enable prospective participants to view seismic survey data for Ionian Sea blocks, as well as technical and financial information.

The current reshuffling activity could produce new consortium line-ups by the end of the year, sources have informed.

Greece’s first drilling operation in several decades, at the Gulf of Patras, is expected to commence early next year. Positive results promise to provide further impetus for more drilling in Greek territory.

 

Hydrocarbon licenses on hold as a result of snap elections

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The country’s ambitious hydrocarbon exploration and production plan appears set to be impacted by further delays as a result of the government’s call for snap elections, now expected to take place on July 7.

License agreements signed recently for offshore blocks in the Ionian Sea and west of the Peloponnese, will, as a result, not be pushed through for ratification in parliament until after the elections.

An Ionian Sea license has been acquired by a consortium comprising Repsol and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), while ELPE has also taken on Block 10, further south, west of the Peloponnese.

Licenses offered for blocks west and southwest of Crete to a consortium made up of Total, ExxonMobil and ELPE are also set to face delays as a result of the country’s political developments. The triple-member team will need to hold on for several more months before it can begin work at these promising spots. The consortium’s licences, still in the hands of a supervisory committee, have also yet to be ratified in parliament. No action on these is expected prior to the early general elections.

Procedures concerning the formation of a new government and the ensuing summer break will delay the ratification of these agreements until September, experts have estimated.

Investors looking forward to exploration work in the Ionian Sea and off Crete have become well acquainted with the slow-moving ways of Greece and are prepared to remain patient until this latest obstacle is cleared, pundits noted.

The country’s recent administrations have all moved slowly on hydrocarbon licensing matters.

 

EPOCH to provide virtual reality experience to its delegates

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Exploration and Production Offshore Congress Hub (EPOCH) has partnered with Lloyd’s Register to give all the delegates the opportunity to experience new VR technology to be used in the Offshore industry. EPOCH is scheduled to take place in Thessaloniki from September 16 to 17.

“We chose Lloyd’s Register as our VR partner because this company is a leading global provider of engineering and technology-centric professional services,” noted Regina Chislova, the EPOCH project director. “All delegates will be able to try Virtual Reality Safety Simulator recently launched by Lloyd’s Register during the two days of the congress.”

Virtual Reality Safety Simulator was developed to help further support training and knowledge transfer in the energy industry. Through the application of the latest innovation and technology advancements, LR has built a virtual environment to help illustrate the need for a continued focus on safety and risk assessments in the industry.

The EPOCH event will include a two-day business program full of cases and updates on major offshore projects in the Mediterranean and west Africa, including exploring for hydrocarbons across the Mediterranean by Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), Total and ExxonMobil.

Presentations have been confirmed from NOCs, EPCs, Drilling Contractors, Investors, Governmental bodies. These include ELPE, BP, Shell, ADNOC, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Oando Energy Resources, McDermott, Saipem, TechnipFMC, Transocean, Nabors, Lebanese Petroleum Administration, European Commission, and Hellenic Hydrocarbon Resources Management.

For EPOCH registrations, visit https://bit.ly/2IMCk04

 

 

EDEY to drum up Greek oil, gas hopes at Italy, Romania events

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Spurred by recent significant gas field discoveries at Cypriot and Egyptian offshore blocks and the favorable prospects these have generated for the wider region, top officials at EDEY, the Greek Hydrocarbon Management Company, will be looking to attract major foreign investors to new Greek blocks at two industry events in Italy and Romania.

EDEY chairman Yiannis Basias, who is in Ravenna, Italy today to attend the Offshore Mediterranean Conference & Exhibition, a leading industry event, will be exploring the potential interest of oil majors, including Italy’s ENI, for new offshore blocks in the Ionian Sea and off Crete to soon be licensed out.

EDEY chief’s deputy Spyros Bellas will follow up this effort in Bucharest at the Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum, scheduled to take place April 4 and 5.

Tristan Aspray, ExxonMobil’s Vice President of Exploration for Europe, Russia, and the Caspian, hailed the wider region’s prospects at the recent Delphi Economic Forum in Greece. ExxonMobil is currently involved in exploration work being carried out in Romania.

Speaking earlier this month at London’s Global APPEX (Prospect & Property Expo), an event organized by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Bellas, EDEY’s deputy, presented a road map of Greece’s hydrocarbon plans for 2019 to officials of foreign companies as well as latest and more detailed geological data on the Ionian Sea and Cretan regions. This data was processed by Norway’s PGS.

The strategy adopted at EDEY is to plan tenders for offshore blocks based on the interest expressed by foreign investors at this series of meetings.

Besides ENI and ExxonMobil, EDEY is seeking to convince Repsol, Shell and other US majors of Greece’s hydrocarbon prospects.

 

 

Crete exploration license by May, minister assures ExxonMobil deputy

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Exploration and production agreements for two offshore blocks west and southwest of Crete awarded a year-and-a-half ago to a consortium comprising ExxonMobil, Total and ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum)  will be ratified in Greek parliament by May, the latest, energy minister Giorgos Stathakis has assured a leading ExxonMobil official.

Tristan Aspray, ExxonMobil’s Vice President of Exploration for Europe, Russia, and the Caspian, has apparently accepted the minister’s commitment with satisfaction, but this remains unconfirmed.

The two officials met on the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum, a high-profile four-day event that ended yesterday.

Consortium officials have begun showing signs of frustration over the slow-moving licensing procedure for the two offshore Crete blocks.

In a carefully worded statement, the US Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey R. Pyatt, who also attended the forum, noted he was eager to see the bureaucratic delays come to an end so that exploration work off Crete could commence.

The tender for the two offshore Crete blocks was launched in December, 2017. The ExxonMobil-Total-ELPE consortium submitted its bid in March, 2018 before it was endorsed four months later. If parliament ratifies the related licenses in May, the entire procedure will have taken 18 months to complete.

ELPE Arta-Preveza survey hit by local election interests

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Hellenic Petroleum ELPE’s plan to conduct seismic surveys at an onshore license in northwestern Greece’s Arta-Preveza area appears to have run into problems of disproportionate dimensions as a result of resistance by a small number of local residents and other objectors accustomed to opposing such initiatives.

Local authorities, mindful of upcoming municipal elections in May, are paying heed to the danger-mongering of these teams of people, resulting in serious issues for ELPE’s overall hydrocarbon exploration program.

ELPE had already provided local authorities with detailed information supporting the region and its residents would not be impacted in any way by the prospective seismic survey work.

Until recently, local officials, convinced by the ELPE presentation, were prepared to recommend that a license be granted to the petroleum company for its survey work. Instead, local councils of two municipalities in the wider region, Arta and Central Tzoumerka, refused to offer their consent.

As a result, ELPE’s seismic survey plan for Arta-Preveza now appears headed for a delay until after the elections, which will have a knock-on effect on the company’s next scheduled seismic survey, in northern Peloponnese.

Greece must not miss out on the opportunity of discovering major deposits and entering the global petroleum map, which would attract oil majors, industry officials have noted.

Joint operation agreements for continued ELPE license efforts

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All texts concerning the change of shareholder status at ELPE Upstream, a new ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum) subsidiary that has taken on all of the parent company’s hydrocarbon exploration and production rights ahead of the group’s nearing privatization, have been completed, according to the TAIPED privatization fund’s annual development plan.

ELPE will proceed with a capital increase to facilitate the transfer of a 50.1 percent stake of ELPE Upstream to the Greek State, leaving a 49.9 percent stake of the subsidiary for the corporate group.

Potential buyers are preparing to submit binding bids to a sale offering 50.1 percent of the ELPE group. A deadline has yet to be set but a date within the first ten days of March is possible.

Joint Operation Agreements have been prepared to ensure the continuation of activities at ELPE’s various licenses even if the prospective ELPE majority shareholder decides to pursue a different exploration and production strategy.

The Joint Operation Agreements will enable existing shareholders of ELPE’s SPVs to increase or decrease stakes. ELPE has established various SPVs with partners for licenses at the Gulf of Patras, the Ionian Sea, western Greece and Crete.

ELPE bidders given exemption right for ELPE Upstream costs

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Potential buyers participating in a sale offering a controlling 50.1 percent stake in ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum) will be given the option of being exempted from hydrocarbon exploration-related expenses concerning ELPE Upstream, a separate division holding ELPE’s hydrocarbon exploration and concession rights.

A 51 percent stake of ELPE Upstream will remain under the control of the state. Potential buyers will have the right to refuse to partake in ELPE Upstream’s investment activities, given the minority stake they will hold in this venture.

This cost exemption option appears to have satisfied potential buyers of ELPE’s 50.1 percent, preparing to submit binding bids, possibly within the first ten days of March. A deadline has yet to be set.

Head representatives, including Sonatrach boss Abdelmoumene Ould Kaddou, have spent time in Athens over the past couple of weeks for meetings with Greek state privatization fund TAIPED officials. No objections appear to have been raised.

Sonatrach recently entered the ELPE sale, joining Vitol as a partner. American firm Carlyle, the other new entry, has joined forces with Glencore for this sale.

All of ELPE’s current exploration and production licenses have been transferred to ELPE Upstream.

Energean begins 3D seismic survey work at Montenegro licenses

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Energean Oil & Gas, Greece’s sole oil producer, has begun 3D seismic survey work at its offshore exploration and production licenses in Montenegro in search of additional hydrocarbon deposits.

Norway’s PGS has been commissioned for the task, whose results are expected in the third quarter of this year. The PGS survey work on behalf of Energean Oil & Gas is expected to be completed within February.

A PGS seismic ship, Ramform Titan, entered Montenegro’s offshore area on Wednesday and anchored about one mile from the coast, near Bar, the country’s main sea port. Its 3D seismic survey work plans to scan offshore areas between Bar and the Montenegrin town Budva.

Energean Oil & Gas took part in a tender in 2014 and acquired licenses measuring a total of 338 square kilometers in two Montenegro offshore areas. The company went on to sign exploration and production licenses for these plots in March, 2017.

Both areas are believed to be promising. An independent industry firm believes they could contain 1.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 144 million barrels of oil.

Montenegro’s plots have drawn major international players. A consortium made up of ENI and Novatek recently completed seismic surveys at four offshore blocks adjacent to those held by Energean Oil & Gas.