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French oil giant TotalEnergies confirmed on Monday that teams have been mobilized to start drilling operations for its new offshore gas project in Lebanon.
The company has also made pre-orders for the required equipment and called for tenders for a new drilling rig. The environmental impact studies for the project will be finalized by the end of the second quarter next year.
Last month, the company announced it would start exploration activities in Block 9, which is within Lebanon’s territorial waters, after a maritime border agreement was reached between Lebanon and Israel. TotalEnergies owns 60% of Block 9 while Italian firm Eni owns the remaining 40%.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, has met with Lebanon’s Minister of Energy Walid Fayed to discuss the project.
The CEO confirmed that “the teams in charge of drilling operations on Block 9” have already been mobilized. The teams are working with LPA, an independent body that manages Lebanon’s upstream petroleum sector, to prepare the well.
“To date, in addition to the operations manager, more than 10 people are involved in the preparation of the well,” a statement said.
“The call for tenders to secure the drilling rig has been launched and should lead to a selection of the rig in the first quarter of 2023. Pre-orders have also been placed with suppliers for equipment required for the well.”
(Reporting by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Anoop Menon)
