TotalEnergies is keen to begin work on Lebanon’s offshore Block 9 “as soon as possible”, with assessments to begin early next month and well-drilling to launch in Q3 2023, Reuters reported, citing the French major’s CEO Patrick Pouyanne.
Pouyanne said a vessel would arrive in Lebanese waters on Feb. 6 to carry out an environmental survey in Block 9, “and we plan to drill during the third quarter of the year.”
The CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, said the exploration could offer a “big opportunity” for Lebanon as the world was facing a major lack of gas.
“From a geological point of view, I am positive” about a discovery in Lebanon’s Block 9, Descalzi told reporters.
“We have to hope and pray that it is a real and material one,” he said.
On Sunday, TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Eni signed a deal to create a consortium to explore oil and gas in two maritime blocks off the coast of Lebanon known as Blocks 4 and 9.
QatarEnergy has taken a 30% stake in the consortium, leaving TotalEnergies and Eni with 35% each.
