Israel has fast-tracked the award of 12 blocks from its more recent bid round, just one week after announcing which firms made offers (MEES, 26 July). UK duo Cairn and Soco, along with Israeli partner Ratio, were awarded eight blocks – Zones A and C, while Greek firm Energean with local firm Israel Opportunity took Zone D’s four blocks.
All three zones are in the southern half of Israel’s EEZ (see map). The small blocks were grouped together in larger zones after a bid round launched 12 months earlier had failed to yield any big names (MEES, 15 December 2017). This tactic also appears to have failed as firms are scared-off by Israel’s complex geopolitical situation, as it decreases the possibility of regional gas sales. Major players, US firm Noble Energy and local firm Delek are considering the use of FLNG technology at Leviathan in an attempt to bypass these obstacles (MEES, 2 August). (CONTINUED - 273 WORDS)
