The TotalEnergies-contracted Transocean Barents drillship is en route to Lebanon where it is set to begin drilling the highly-anticipated Qana Prospect on the maritime border with Israel next month (see map, MEES, 21 July & MEES, 18 November 2022). Drilling is slated for August-October according to Transocean’s 19 July fleet update.
Transocean adds that Total had taken up an option for one additional “East Med” well to be drilled between October 2023 and January 2024. As well as its two blocks offshore Lebanon, Total operates two blocks off Cyprus and one in Egypt’s frontier ‘West Mediterranean’ region. The firm is also a mooted bidder in Israel’s recently closed bid round (MEES, 21 July). (CONTINUED - 108 WORDS)
